Political Quotes

“essentially what this amendment does is to state that, if the aid provided goes on for longer than 90 days, the agencies that dispense aid must take reasonable steps to see that the individual is a lawful resident in the United States. We have met together, and I would like to thank Senator Reid and Senator Boxer for their cooperation. We have met together with the FEMA people; with the Small Business Administration people, Mr. Bowles; with Secretary Cisneros; with Senator Kennedy's immigration staff; and with the HUD-VA Appropriations Subcommittee staff, to draft an amendment which in fact is legal and enforceable and does not create gridlock in the preliminary screening for emergency aid in this particular disaster. And I believe that this amendment accomplishes the task. In essence, this amendment says that temporary aid can be given out for up to 90 days, but after 90 days, the individuals receiving ongoing assistance must be asked by the Federal agencies to provide documentation of their legal status. It is up to the agency to take reasonable steps to determine that these persons are lawfully within the United States. I hasten to add that this amendment does not allow an agency or an individual emergency aid provider to select which applicants to investigate because of the shade of their skin, their race, ethnicity, citizenship, national origin, the accent they have, or anything else.”