Speech #1040242335

I rise in opposition to this amendment and in support of the underlying bill. The reason that I do is because there is a fundamental difference that I want to highlight. It is the fundamental difference between allowing noncitizens to have access to our welfare safety net and not. The CastleTanner bill makes it very clear that noncitizens will have greater access to the welfare system. certainly. much more access than under the underlying bill. What happens under the welfare reform bill that we are going to vote on later today Is we completely eliminate welfare benefits to noncitizens except -for emergency medical treatment and some other exceptions for elderly people. The fact is that we have got to. if we are going to fix the immigration. illegal immigration problem. and even legal immigration problem. if we are going to fix that and if we are going to have those people coming to America because they want to be in America. because they want to give to America. not take from America. then we have to eliminate the welfare magnet that we have created here. The real solution to the immigration problem lies in eliminating and changing the way that we dole out relief. dole out welfare to anyone who is in this country. whether legally or illegally. citizen. or noncitizen. That is a fundamental problem. We have a certain responsibility with respect to safety nets to citizens of the United States of America. That responsibility does not extend to noncitizens. If we are to. in fact. as a compassionate nation that is able to take care of its own who are falling through the cracks. if we are to be able to do that in a proper way. then we must eliminate the welfare that goes to noncitizens.