Speech #1050118185

Speaker. this week a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles ruled that key portions of California Proposition 187 are unconstitutional. I am absolutely appalled by this declaration. which ultimately indicates that taxpayer dollars may be used to benefit undocumented immigrants. Passed as a ballot initiative in 1994. Proposition 187 broadly denies state taxpayerfunded benefits to illegal aliens. This initiative also calls for greater cooperation between state authorities and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service in the detection of illegal aliens. I endorse Proposition 187 and signed the petition to put it on the ballot. Proposition 187 was supposed to have taken effect on November 9. 1994. however it has been plagued with controversy since it was passed by California voters. Federal Judge Mariana Pfaelzer has declared a number of the initiatives are unconstitutional. citing the 1982 Supreme Court ruling in Plyler v. Doe which maintained that states could not deny public school enrollment to illegal aliens. Although the state attorney generals office has indicated it will appeal to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. the final resolution of this appeal and other suits filed by various citizens groups will likely take years. That Americans hardearned wages should be used to support immigrants who reside in this nation illegally is totally unacceptable. Mr. Speaker. I will not stand for such injustice. Congressman BRIAN BILBRAY (RCA) has introduced H.R. 7. the Citizenship Reform Act to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act and deny citizenship at birth to children born in the U.S. of parents who are not citizens or permanent resident aliens. In addition. Congressman BOB STUMP (RAZ) has introduced H.R. 347. which will effect a moratorium on immigration by aliens other than refugees. priority workers. and the spouses and children of United States citizens. Mr. Speaker. I am cosponsor of both of these pieces of legislation because I believe something must be done and it is up to us to act now. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7 and H.R. 347 in order to ensure that taxpayers dollars are benefitting taxpayers. not illegal aliens.