Speech #1040123507

It is supported by the National Association of Counties. the National League of Cities. the U.S. Catholic Conference. and the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. as well as several other organizations. I believe that we are essentially a nation of immigrants. I sit as a new member of the Immigration Subcommittee and I know there is a legitimate reason that the Government should try to dissuade. in any way we can. people from becoming naturalized simply to gain welfare. There is no question about it. I believe the immigration bill that we have marked up in the Immigration Subcommittee deals with that. What this bill does is it says that if you are a naturalized citizenand let me give some specific examples. Take my mothers case and put it in the present day. My mother came to this country at the age of 3. Supposing her mother was naturalized. that would make her a naturalized citizen. Then supposing my mother did want to go to college. which she never had an opportunity to do. she would be eligible for a loan program. Under this bill. as drafted. my mother would never be eligible as a naturalized citizen for a program. Even Medicaid. she would not be eligible for it. Taking my mother again. say my mother came to this country as a spouse. never worked. was naturalized. was a naturalized citizen for 20 years. Say my father left her and she was destitute. She would not have access to any aid program. cash or noncash. the way the bill is presently drafted. The language before the Senate simply deletes this language and keeps a class of "American citizen" as one class. If you are naturalized. you are as good as someone who is born anywhere in this great country. I yield the floor.