Speech #980124781

Mr. President. I am pleased to serve as an original cosponsor of S. 2029. legislation which would prohibit illegal aliens from receiving social security benefits. The current loopholes in our social security laws which allow aliens who have left this country to collect benefits has long troubled me. At a time when we are asking for sacrifices on the part of so many. it is clear that the Government owes its citizens assurances that the trust fund is being closely monitored. The payment of benefits to nonresident aliens must be brought to an end. Under the present law. illegal aliens who have been deported are prohibited from receiving social security benefits. However. aliens who leave the country voluntarily are able to collect benefits based on their illegal employment. The measure introduced today would prevent any illegal alien discovered by the INS from receiving benefits. I am most pleased that this bill would go still further as it would require the establishment of legal resident and employment status criteria for the receipt of benefits. As many of you know. an amendment similar to this legislative measure was passed by the Senate last year during the debate on the Social Security Amendments of 1983.