Speech #1090047704

Mr. Speaker. I rise today to speak against this amendment which seeks to restrict illegal aliens access to the U.S. Mexican Social Security Totalization agreement. I cannot support this agreement. not for its intent. but because of the consequences of enforcing it. I agree with Mr. HAYWORTH that immigration is an issue that must be addressed. However. the remedy that this amendment creates would lead to more harm then good and violates a fundamental aspect of American ideals. This amendment seeks to ensure that benefits cant be paid under the U.S. Mexico Totalization agreement for work inconsistent with federal law. Undocumented aliens working within the United States would meet the criteria of work inconsistent with federal law and therefore would be denied benefits. This method of dealing with our nations immigration problem is not the answer. Social Security is a contract: you put money in. you get money out. Denying undocumented aliens the money that they put into social security is to violate what is at the very center of Americn ideals. Weare a country that values hard work. You get what you give. Refusing to grant Social Security benefits to undocumented aliens who have spent their entire lives working and contributing to the system is a blatant violation of contract law. Our nation faces many challenges on the issue of immigration. Our Immigration system is far from perfect. We have Filipinos waiting 18 years just to have a person look over their application. We have families who are forced to wait years upon years to be reunited with their brethren. We need comprehensive reform. This amendment would denigrate the hard work of thousands of workers who have spent their lives working hard in this great nation. If an undocumented alien puts a dollar into the social security system this amendment would rob him of that dollar. Is this the GOPs plan to solve the social security conundrum. to rob undocumented aliens of their social security benefits. To refuse to put more boarder guards on our frontiers. only to rob those who are attempting to create a better life for themselves. This is not immigration reform. Our immigration situation is a problem that needs to be solved. I will be the first to admit that. But reforms such as this amendment are not the correct method to achieve that goal. We need comprehensive immigration reform. I can not support this amendment because I feel it unduly robs undocumented aliens of their hard earned wages. This amendment will not solve our nations immigration problems. It only serves to violate simple contract theory. I believe in an American in which you get what you put in.