Speech #1040100925

I rise in opposition to the amendment of the gentleman from West Virginia. which would eliminate $30 million earmarked for reimbursing States for incarcerating violent criminal aliens. Earlier this year the House passed H.R. 667. the Violent Criminals Incarceration Act of 1995. In that legislation was a provision sponsored by this Member which would authorize $650 million per year to reimburse States for the burden of incarcerating illegal aliens that commit felonies. In the bill before us today. there is only $500 million set aside for that purpose and this amendment would reduce this amount by another $30 million. Mr. Chairman. the States can no longer afford to pick up the tab for the failure of the Federal Government to enforce its borders and enforce its immigration laws. For some perspective. the cost of this failure to California alone is over $500 million a year. But this is not only a California problem. There are over 4 million illegal aliens in our country and they are found in every State. Clearly. the States that are negatively impacted by this failure of Federal policy can no longer pay the bill for the fact that the Federal Government has shirked its responsibility to enforce its border and the law. I would just like to make one statement in relation to the gentleman from West Virginia: California gets less money per capita than any other State in the Nation as it relates to reimbursement for the incarcerating of illegal aliens under this legislation.