Speech #1040201756

Mr. President. this bill fails to meet the majority leaders truthinadvertising test. It is not strictly an illegal immigration bill. and it does have serious financial implications for States and local communities. We are preparing to vote on a bill that we truly have not the foggiest idea what the impact will be on our constituents. They certainly are extremely concerned and strongly supportive of resolving this issue of unfunded mandates. I have a letter dated April 16 from the National Conference of State Legislatures. This letter is also joined by the National Association of Counties and the National League of Cities. This letter urges all Senators to support a point of order against S. 1664. the illegal immigration bill. based on the violation of the unfunded mandates bill. This so statesthe President of the National Conference of State Legislatures. the President of the National Association of Counties. and the President of the National League of Cities"This constitutes a critical test of your commitment to preventing cost shifts to an unfunded administrative burden on State and local governments." This is what the leaders of State and local governments have described as the seriousness of the issue of unfunded mandates raised by this bill. During the Judiciary Committee markup of this bill.