Speech #1050000527

Mr. Speaker. today I am introducing legislation which is designed to correct a drafting error which appeared In Public Law 104208 and which pertains to the ability of ineligible aliens to receive Federal housing assistance. Amendments made to section 214 of the Housing Act. as incorporated Into the ImmigratIon Reform bill adopted last year. were designed to make it more difficult for Illegal aliens to receive housing assistance. The fact is. Illegals are currently receiving housing assistance and every day newly arrived illegal aliens are applying for assistance. HUD. In the past has been very inconsistent In enforcing the laws designed to prevent this funding from going to ineligible families. Unfortunately. In attempting to correct the obvious flaws in the law. we made a drafting mistake and now HUD is threatening to make the proverbial mountain out of the mole hill. In considering the potential problems large public housing authorities may encounter as they try to Implement mandatory verification of citizenship or Immigration status of all applicants for housing assistance. the Senate tried to provide an optout provision which would allow HAs to grant housing assistance before all verification was completed if the verification process was taking too long or if the waiting period began to result In an unusual amount of vacant units. While House Members were at first reluctant to put this optout Into statutory language. it was Included In the final version of the bill signed Into law.