Speech #1020187270

Mr. Speaker. today I am Introducing a bill to prohibit Federal financial assistance to State and local governments that extend the right to vote to undocumented aliens. This is the ninth bill I have Introduced to stop the flow of illegal Immigrants Into the United States. All of these proposals are designed to eliminate practices or policies which have had the effect of encouraging aliens to enter our country illegally and are imposing an increasingly heavy burden on our communities and citizens and on State and local governments in many areas of the United States. The Federal Government has complete authority to establish immigration policy for the United States and to control the entry and flow of immigrants into this country. Pursuant to that authority. the Congress has imposed restrictions on immigration. including sanctions on employers who hire illegal aliens and prohibitions and restrictions on alien eligibility for most Federal welfare and benefit programs. Estimates vary as to the number of undocumented aliens residing In the United States today and the costs to the taxpayers of providing benefits to these Illegals. The Immigration and Naturalization Service estimates that the record 1.7 million apprehensions of illegal aliens prior to the enactment of the 1986 Immigration reform law will be exceeded this year and that for every one Illegal they pick up at the border two others get away. Thus. we can expect over 3 million additional people will enter our country illegally this year alone. seeking work. welfare and free emergency and pregnancy services to survive. and contributing to local governments burden of providing health. medical care. child care. education. police. employment. welfare. and other public services. The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that U.S. taxpayers In 1990 paid at least $5.4 billion In direct Government benefits for illegal aliens nationwide. That rough cost estimate could well be exceeded this year. For a State or local government to extend the franchise to illegal Immigrants will only exacerbate the problem. By entering the United States illegally. these aliens have committed an unlawful act. and they should not be able to profit from that act. Undocumented aliens should not be permitted to cast ballots for those who promise to provide them more free handouts and services and represent their Interests. Immigrants will never understand or appreciate the benefits of citizenship if they can circumvent the legal requirements for obtaining citizenship. Moreover. our communities can no longer absorb these people. Today. govemment lacks the resources to be able to provide benefits and services to illegals without also limiting assistance to poor and needy citizens and legal immigrants and their families. To enable illegals to take advantage of taxpayer funded programs to which they are not entitled will work unfairly to the detriment of those American families who are eligible and deserving of such assistance. In my opinion. allowing the direct participation by undocumented aliens in State and local affairs Is contrary to the public Interest. For State or local officials to permit. by referendum. by secret ballot. or by any other means. Illegal Immigrants to vote In elections Is to undermine the longheld congressional view of the Nations welfare. Finally. permitting Illegals to vote will necessarily weaken the votIng rights of minority groups. especially Hispanic and AfricanAmericans. protected under the 14th and 15th amendments of the Constitution and will dilute the power and Influence that such groups of citizens exert on the politicalrxocess of our Nation. Thus. while suffrage Is ordinadly a matter left to State and local governments. and very few communities have extended or threatened to extend the vote to undocumented aliens. I believe that extraordinary measures are needed to stop the Invasion of this country by Illegals. Cutting off all Federal ad to those governments which have granted the right to vote to undocumented aliens. until that vote is rescinded. is well within the authority of Congress and consistent with the public interest. Mr. Speaker. I ask that the text of this bill be printed in the RECORD. I call on my colleagues to support this legislation and to crack down on illegal Immigration as firmly and as swiftly as possible. H.R. 5625 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled.