Speech #1030127003

Madam Chairman. I rise to applaud the action of the Appropriations Committee in adopting section 602 of this bill. For the first time in history. an appropriations bill differentiates between the aid available to citizens and legal residents on the one hand. and illegal aliens on the other. This is a major step forward. and a vindication for those of us who have been working for years under severe personal attack to exclude illegal aliens from taxpaid benefits. Ultimately. the principle needs to be that we will help everyone with their immediate needs in the wake of a disaster. but then those who are here illegally will be sent home. That is eventually a principle we should adopt. but under this bill I am certain that the authors of the compromise. the gentleman from California and the gentleman from California agree with me. that under this bill. that with certain specified exemptions aimed at shortterm emergency needs. illegal aliens will be excluded from longterm disaster assistance. That section. 602. which is the compromise. excludes illegal aliens from the section 8 housing voucher program that provides rental subsidies for up to 18 months. That section. 602. makes illegal aliens ineligible for small business loans to rebuild residences and businesses under the SBA program. That section. 602. the compromise. excludes illegal aliens from recelit.ng. in response to the earthquake. any further food stamps beyond those that they have received between the date of the earthquake. which. after all. was a long time ago now. several weeks ago. and the date of enactment of this bill. Madam Chairman. this compromise. this push for a responsible government in the wake of a disaster. is a major victory for sane government spending. It is a victory for people who are willing to use their hearts to reach out to those people in an emergency situation. even if they are illegal aliens. and help them. but to ensure that the longterm funds. the limited longterm funds that we have available for emergency relief in this country. will go instead of to people who are here illegally from other countries. who may be wonderful people. but those limited funds should be going to U.S. citizens and legal residents. people who are part of the great American family that we love so much that includes people of all ethnic backgrounds and races and all religions. So. Madam Chairman.