Mr. President. I rise to comment on a provision that is included in the managers amendment to S. 1664. the immigration reform bill. I am pleased to introduce this amendment. which will require verification of citizenship and/or immigration status for those applying for housing assistance. The applicant will have 30 days to provide proper documentation. or assistance will not be provided. applicants who have failed to provide documentation in that time will be taken off the waiting list. For those who already receive housing assistance. a verification of immigration status may be required at the annual recertification. Annual recertification for housing assistance is already required to determine income levels. and I would urge housing authorities to make good use of this option. If a housing authority requests verification. a household will have a 3month period to obtain proper documentation or assistance will be terminated. Once the 3month appeal is exhausted. a hearing may be granted in the fourth month. It is important to note that political refugees and asylum seekers are exempt from my proposal. The amendment I offer today passed the House immigration reform bill unanimously as part of the managers amendment. In 1980. Congress passed the Housing and Community Development Act. which included a section prohibiting illegal aliens from receiving Federal housing assistance. In 1995. 15 years after the bill passed. HUD issued regulations to implement the 1980 changes. Its regulations. however. will do little to prohibit illegal aliens from continuing to receive taxpayersupported housing. Under current regulations. Illegal aliens can be placed on a waiting list and then granted housing assistance without having to provide documentation proving that they are eligible to receive the assistance. If a household is not eligible to continue receiving assistance currently it may appeal the decision in 3month increments for up to 3 years. That is 3 years of taxpayer assistance for someone who may not be eligible to receive the funds.
Keywords matched
Illegal aliens immigration refugees asylum seekers illegal aliens