Speech #990275294

I rise in opposition to the amendment. I think the intent of the sponsor is sensible and his motives are humane. in attempting to unify and reunify families. but I think that there is a major flaw in this amendment which I would like to call to the attention of the House. If I understand the thrust of the gentlemans amendment. it would provide that families living in subsidized public housing could not be required to verify their immigration status if any member of the family is a citizen of the United States. a national of the United States. or an alien resident of the United States. I think the gentleman from Texas would agree with me that if a couple. for instance. would come into the United States illegally and falsify an application for public housing. that those people should. upon the discovery of that falsification. be at least penalized and perhaps evicted. If the gentlemans amendment passes. the following could occur. A group. a family could come into the United States. apply for public housing. falsify their citizenship status. move into the public housing. and before they are discovered as being illegal. a child would be born to them. That child. being born on the soil of the United States. is an American citizen. The fact that a citizen then resides in the household would preclude the housing authorities from verifying the immigration status of the parents. So we have a situation where a falsification of an application. a clear act of fraud. has been condoned by virtue of an act of birth. I think that that goes far beyond what we need to have in this legislation.