Speech #1040008668

Mr. President. I make this statement on behalf of the Senator from Wyoming. the chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee. relating to the Boxer amendment which would require an advisory commission report on immigrationrelated unfunded Federal mandates. Mr. President. I have discussed this amendment No. 201 with Senator SIMPSON. who as I said is chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee. As he noted. the issue of the cost of illegal or legal immigrants to State and local governments is very complex. As a matter of fact. it is not the result of a mandate by the Federal Government but. rather. because the Federal Government has failed to carry out its obligations to secure our international borders. The congressionally established Commission on Immigration Reform is examining this issue at the present time. The Subcommittee on Immigration will be looking at this issue in its oversight capacity. I strongly urge my colleagues to table amendment No. 201. and. if necessary. the Congress can deal with it later when some of these complexities are resolved. Senator SIMPSON has assured me that the Subcommittee on Immigration will hold hearings on various immigration reform proposals. and it is clear that this issue will be raised and considered in these hearings. I might add. Mr. President. that as a Senator from a border State. this is an issue of vital concern to me and to my State. Senator SIMPSON has noted that the Congress has not ignored the costs to State and local governments resulting from immigration legislation. In the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act. Congress included $4 billion for assistance to States that were impacted by the legalization program in that legislation. The Congress was responsive and provided assistance where immigration legislation was likely to create new costs for State and local governments then. and Senator SIMPSON assures me he would support similar assistance in the future. To require the advisory commission to provide a report and a plan at the same time the Commission on Immigration Reform is examining and preparing to report on the same issue would be duplicative and unnecessary. So I suggest. Mr. President. that we wait for the findings and report of the Commission on Immigration Reform this spring and not require this advisory commission to go over the same ground as would be called for in amendment No. 201. I urge my colleagues when this amendment is considered by the Senate to table it. I would again indicate that this is a reflection of the Senator from Wyoming .