Speech #1040243391

President. I think this is an area where there is just a disagreement in philosophy. I respect the Senator from Florida. and there probably is not a Member in this Chamber who knows more about the difficulty in dealing with a large number of legal immigrants In this country than the former Governor of Florida. But I think there is just a philosophical difference here. or a difference of what we believe is fair and equitable In this country. What we are talking about is a particular class of legal immigrants. We are not talking about refugees. people who come to this country seeking refuge from persecution In their homeland. All refugees are excluded from the provisions of this bill. In other words. they are fully entitled to the array of social welfare benefits provided by the Federal Government. Asylees. for example. the two Cuban baseball playersthey are probably not going to need any social welfare benefits given their talent level. but if they were not so talented and were here in this country claiming political asylum. they would continue to be eligible for a variety of welfare benefits. We are. in a sense. to my understanding. unique in that respect around the world. There are. to my knowledge. no other countries that do provide welfare benefits to legal immigrants and their noncitizens In their country. So. in a sense. we are keeping very much with the tradition of our country. with the Statue of Liberty when we suggest that those who are under persecution at home. that those who are In need of this country as a beacon of freedom are. in fact. provided for by this country. So I think that is something we should all agree on. be proud of and. obviously. continue. and we do that in this bill. What we do not continue in this bill. and I think wisely do not continue. is to continue to provide benefits to what are called sponsored immigrants. Sponsored immigrants are Immigrants who come to this country. and almost all come to this country through a family unification provision. which is to unify a family. whether it is a spouse or a child or a mother or a father or a sister or a brother. They come to this country to unify a family. and when they do so. the citizen of this country. who is the sponsor. signs a document. The document says that I will take financial responsibility for this person who I want to bring to this country for a period of 5 years. and that all of my assets are deemed available and in the possession. so to speak. constructive possession of the person coming into this country for purposes of evaluating whether that person is eligible for welfare or other Government benefits.