Speech #1030136342

I rise in opposition to this amendment for three reasons as a parent and as a legislator. First of all. the provisions would impose an unaffordable cost on the school systems in our country. and I do not think any parents in America want that. Second of all. it would have a chilling effect on the education of many undocumented children. all of whom have the right to be educated in our country. as the law indicates. as the gentleman from Arizona pointed out. Children denied an education are not likely to grow up as productive members of our society. The Rohrabacher amendment would have a negative and costly impact on our entire society. I do not think the parents of this country who want the best for their children want their children in a society where other children are deprived of an education. Third. I believe that this amendment would serve no legitimate immigration policy purpose. Determining citizenship status of schoolchildren and their parents will not deter undocumented immigrants from entering the country. Indeed. it would impose a burden on teachers and administrators and children to check up on the legal status of parents. and that is a waste of energy and counterproductive to the goal of decreasing the number of illegal immigrants in this country. Therefore. Mr.