Speech #1050100429

I yield myself such time as I may consume. E 2230 Mr. Speaker. today we bring to the floor S. 1258. a bill to amend the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act to prohibit an illegal alien unlawfully present in the United States from receiving assistance under the act. Earlier this year the House passed a virtually identical bill. H.R. 849. originally introduced by the gentleman from California . When House Resolution 849 was last before this body. on the corrections calendar it passed by a vote 399 to 0. an overwhelming indication of House Resolution 849s bipartisan appeal. S. 1258 and H.R. 849 plugs a loophole left open in last years immigration reform bill by amending the Uniform Relocation Assistance Act to prohibit illegal aliens from receiving relocation assistance. Acting at the request of the administration. the Senate bill extends the time which the Department of Transportation will have to write the implementing regulation from 6 months to 1 year. I recommend to my colleagues we accommodate the administration on this issue. I want to once again thank the gentleman from Minnesota and their staff for the cooperative way in which they have worked with us to prepare this bill for final consideration today. I want to also thank the gentleman from California for sponsoring his legislation and bringing this important issue to the Houses attention today. This is a good simple bipartisan bill that plugs a loophole in immigration law. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Mr.