Program was createdboth authorized and appropriatedby the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. We all know that the 1986 immigration bill was highly controversial. and SLIAG was a key component of that compromise. Today. we have dismantled SLIAG and violated that compromise. Recognizing that the legalization program In the 1986 Immigration bill would Increase the demand for social services from State and local govern. ments. we created and funded SLIAG to reimburse the State and local gov. ernments for those costs. That is only fair. Immigration policy is a Federal issue. and the State and local govern. ments in Texas. California. and elsewhere should not have to pick up the tab for our policy choices at this level. As I said. SLIAG was a vital part of the compromise that enabled the 1986 immigration bill to pass. But the raid on SLIAG funds in this bill seems to pretend that the 1986 compromise does not exist. The LaborHHS appropriations bill. as reported by the committee. slashed $241 million from SLIAG.
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