Speech #1010216559

Simons work. is one by Prof. George Boras. and he raises these concerns. He talks about injury to American workers from a massive influx of immigrants. He. too. talks about the need to have skilled and educated immigrants. But more especially he says that contrary to all the other surveys of immigrants who have come to this country. the current wave of immigrants. who came in the 1970s. and we do not have the data on the immigrants who came in the 1980s yet. but those who came in the 1970s are participating in welfare to an extent larger than any other wave of immigrants. He uses the word that America has become a welfare magnet because we give individuals in government transfer payments. many instances more than they make in their own countries. Mr. Chairman. Mr. Borjas says that the immigrants who came in the 1970s will cost American taxpayers $30 billion in those welfare payments. Well. if H.R. 4300 becomes law. we are talking about at least a 50percent increase in immigrants. That means $45 billion in welfare payments. but it is actually more than that because one of Mr. BorJas other findings is. unfortunately. that immigrants coming into this country are not only participating in welfare more than immigrants in the past. but the longer they are here in the country. the more they are taking those government transfer payments. The point here is not to say that many immigrants are costing us money. because I think relatively few are. but the point is that those who do. have a dramatic impact on our taxpayers in this country. Mr. Chairman.