Speech #1040271814

Remember. there were no changes in any other title of this bill. But in title V. through the negotiations of these last long nights. and rosyfingered dawn. here is what has been lost from title V. Under the administrations threat of shutting down the Federal Government unless Congress make changes in the immigration billand that was. in essence. a threatthat it pass both Houses by huge majorities. we lost some very important parts of the conference report. Principally. we lost the provision that would have ensured that persons who bring their immigrant relatives would have sufficient resources or income to provide them support. if needed. This was called the 140- or 200percent requirement of poverty. 140percent of poverty level and 200percent requirement of poverty level. That was to reduce the number of those immigrant relatives who themselves would qualify for welfare. where you have a situation where a person bringing in an immigrant member of their family may not have enough resources to escape the poverty level themselves. So it seems absurd to lower it as it now has come down to 125 percent of poverty where a person near poverty gets to bring in another person near poverty. and then that person who comes in under the new law being a public charge and being responsible for that person. then you are going to have a serious problem. But that will come to pass. and that will be corrected within years to come. But even under the 140percent standard. many immigrants would immediately qualify for many welfare programs. But even this modest standard was too much for the President. And he can answer for that in the campaign and in the future. We lost a provision that would have defined the term "public charge." And without such a definition we really cannot deport even those recent immigrants who have become completely dependent upon taxpayerfunded welfare. The only bright spot there is that under the welfare bill you cant receive welfare for a 4- or 5year period. and there are certain conditions there. The White House also insisted on the removal of the provision prohibiting illegal aliens from earning Social Security credits while working illegally in the United States. That is a rather remarkable bit of information. and that is what the President insisted upon. We had it in there to prohibit illegal aliens from earning Social Security credits while working illegally in the United States. The White House even rejected the provision which would have required a fair distribution of refugee assistance. This was one of the principal activities of Senator FEINSTEIN. This is what she had in mind. and she was very right. And I tried to stick with her through all of the negotiations. because under current law the distribution of refugee assistance is highly erratic and inequitable. California counties receive $37 per refugee while counties in certain other States receive almost $500 per refugee. We shall let the President explain that to the people of California. which I am sure he will. Finally. we lost provisions that would have prevented illegal aliens from receiving treatment for AIDS. I hope you hear that. This is not about homophobia. It is not about anything. It is about a remarkable provision that means that. if an illegal alien is receiving treatment for AIDS. they will continue to receive that treatment which can amount to about $119.000 per year. We have provisions in the law that illegals receive assistance for certain illnesses and ailmentstuberculosis. Obviously. that is in our vital interest. But never have we done this. which is an extraordinary departure. And we shall let the President explain that. how we provide taxpayers money to illegal aliens for treatmentnot testingtreatment for AIDS. I worked diligently to remove that. It is not removed. And the President will explain that. and I know he will. But what remains in title V is of interest. too. because here is what we salvaged from that section of that title. States may deny drivers licenses to illegal aliens under title programs. very good provision. Social Security benefits may no longer be paid to illegal aliens in the United States. even though I read you the other portion. That is different. They may no longer be paid. For the first time all applicants for Federal public assistance must provide proof of citizenship. or legal residence. That is in title V. Illegal aliens will no longer be eligible for reduced inState college tuition. It is in there. The GAO will study the use of Pell grants and federally funded student aid of college students who are illegal. or nonresident aliens. That is in there. Every person seeking to bring their relatives here as immigrants must sign a legally enforceable affidavit promising to provide financial support. if required. That is in there. very important provision. All persons who bring their relatives here as immigrants must have an income of at least 125 percent of the poverty level. I very much wish it could have been more. I think that is going to cause real problems in the future. States will now be authorized to limit aliens access to cash assistance programs. Federal funds will be authorized for full reimbursement to States for the cost of emergency medical and ambulance services to illegal aliens. That is a very important provision. bipartisan in every way. We restrict the availability of public housing to illegal aliens. finally. It is not what we wanted. But it is a start.