Speech #1040124084

Mr. President. again. as in last nights activity. a difficult and emotional issue. couched in the terms of immigration and welfareeither we do something or we do not. It is very simple. The Dole welfare reform bill would for 5 years require the deeming of a sponsors income and resources in the case of a sponsored immigrant seeking public assistance. Immigration law is riddled with compassionate loopholes and people are fed up. We must place sensible controls on these continuing conditions or Americans will be in terminable compassion fatigue. This 5year deeming period is consistent with the 5year deeming period for SSI. which we did last year. It is exactly the same as that 5 years. It is exactly the 5year deeming period for AFDC and food stamps proposed by the President of the United States in his own welfare reform bill. the Presidents proposal. The sponsors assets and income are deemed to be those of the immigrants when you come to the United States. The only immigrants affected by this 5year deeming period are those who have already entered within the last 5 years and who apply for or are already receiving public assistance of some form or amount. Please hear that. Remember. pleaseand you cannot miss this pointthe people who are admitted as immigrants to the United States. to this very generous land. are here only after their sponsors convinced the visa officer that the immigrant would not require public assistance at any time--not Just for 5 years or the first 3 years or any year. but at any time. and that they would not become a public charge. Under the GrahamSimon amendment. sponsored immigrants who have entered within the past 5 years could continue to receive assistance under programs which they already benefit and could apply for and receive assistance under many other programs immediately. and several others in less than 3 years. Most other Americans would certainly question that fairness. when their own children cannot get in those programs because they happen to be native born. Keep in mind. now. these persons were admitted onlyonlybecause they were able to convince. to make a promise to the visa officer that they would not become a public charge. and the law says "at any time." This amendment would therefore have the purpose of relieving the immigrants and his or her sponsor from that promised obligation to give the required assistance. and the good old American taxpayers would then take over to the tune of $623 million over 5 years. I want to emphasize that clearly again. Before an immigrant can be admitted. it must be established that he or she is not likely to become a public charge. that the real contract the immigrant and the sponsor have with the American people. the real promise of America. is keeping promises. Whether the affidavit of support is for 3 years or 5 years is much beside the point. The understanding was the immigrant would not become a burden on the public of the United States. especially not in his first 5 years in the United States. What would the American taxpayers say if they knew we were admitting persons as immigrants who they knew would then be covered under this amendment. would be able to receive public assistance so soon after their arrival. even within 3 years? My colleague from Florida is honestly concerned about college students in his State who are recent immigrants who may want to receive publicfunded college assistance. It is good and in our national interest that the newcomers seek to improve themselves through additional education and training. but the agreement of admission. the promise made was that the immigrants and his or her sponsor would take care of the cost of that education and not the American taxpayers. A sponsor is a sponsor is a sponsor. If the Senator says that we must maintain the status quo and not change the rules of the game. there is a good way to do it: reject this amendment because the rule of the game is the newcomer must be selfsupported. not likely at any time to become i public charge. Those are the words of the immigration law.