Speech #1040203849

Mr. President. I rise today in support of S. 1664. the Immigration Control and Financial Responsibility Act. which was reported out of the Judiciary Committee. after a rather long and arduous process. by a vote of 13 to 4. I especially commend my longtime friend and colleague. Senator ALAN SIMPSON. who is chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration who has guided this legislative effort which is aimed at reducing illegal Immigration in this country. He has the patience of Job. and I will miss his good company when we end our Senate careers. which began together 18 years ago. Also. I commend Senator KENNEDY who has worked diligently on this bill. as he does on so many legislative proposals. I do not believe that there is much question that we need to reduce the high level of illegal immigration in this country. which has been an enormous drain on the countrys welfare system. its public education system. as well as other Government resources. The committee report shows that the number of illegal aliens apprehended each year since 1990 has been over 1 million. This figure alone justifies the steps that need to be taken to reduce illegal immigration. The provisions in title I of this bill will strengthen law enforcement efforts against illegal immigration. The bill provides for additional law enforcement personnel and detention facilities. authorizes pilot projects to verify eligibility for employment and contains provisions to reduce document fraud. Title I contains higher penalties for document fraud as well as alien smuggling. and it also streamlines exclusion and deportation procedures and establishes procedures to expedite the removal of criminal aliens. The provisions in title II relating to financial responsibility of aliens is very important. I believe that aliens should be able to support themselves and. in fact. the U.S. law requires that an immigrant may be admitted to the United States upon an adequate showing that he or she is not likely to become a public charge. This has been a longstanding policy of our Nation. and the legislation before this body would strengthen that policy. Title II contains certain provisions to reduce aliens being a burden on our Nations welfare system. It contains a provision that an alien is subject to deportation if she or he becomes a public charge within 5 years from entry into the U.S. Title II prohibits the receipt of any Federal. State or local government assistance by an illegal alien. except in rare circumstances. such as emergency medical care. pregnancy service or assistance under the National School Lunch or Child Nutrition Act. Further. one of the ways an alien can prove he or she will not become a public charge is to have a sponsor in the U.S. file an affidavit of support which. under current law. requires the sponsor to support an alien for 3 years. This legislation increases a sponsors liability to 10 years. which is the same time it takes any citizen to qualify for Social Security retirement benefits and Medicare.