Speech #980164785

Mr. Speaker. the Nations border school districts face a hardship not encountered anytime before in their existence. In 1982. the Supreme Court overturned a law promulgated by the Texas State Legislature regarding the children of immigrant persons. The Supreme Court said that the State is responsible for the education of such children. As a former member of the Texas House of Representatives. I understand what my former colleagues in the State government intended when they passed the now unconstitutional statute attempting to exclude from education the children of undocumented workers because they were aware of the costs involved. approximately $3.000 per student. The ruling by the Supreme Court did not resolve the original problem. the question of where the responsibility lies in paying for the education of these children. This legislation. which would provide $500 per immigrant student. would finally establish an answer. This legislation also provides that no State may receive more than 1.5 percent of the amount that the State receives under the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. Thus. this State and the Federal Government assume the responsibility together. This is only fair. especially when you consider the tragic state of the economies of border regions today and the admitted failure of the Federal Government to prevent illegal immigration. There is another reason that we have introduced this legislation. This bill already has been agreed to by the Congress. In the Supplemental Appropriations Conference Report on Labor. Health and Human Services. and Education. the Congress approved $30 million for funding for school districts with children of undocumented aliens in attendance. However. the administration. with its "new emphasis on education." is trying to block this funding. In fiscal year 1984 continuing resolution (Public Law 98151) the Congress appropriated and authorized the emergency immigrant education assistance program. The program was authorized through title V of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act amendments. H.R. 3520. which passed the House in September.