Porter Goss: “Mr. Seaker, another boat-load of refugees arrived in America from tempest-tossed Haiti this week. Tragically, several…”

“Mr. Seaker, another boat-load of refugees arrived in America from tempest-tossed Haiti this week. Tragically, several drowned on their way. Those that made it ashore have disappeared without HIV screening or asylum processing. In the eyes of the Federal Government, it is almost as if they don't exist, as if they are not people. But to budget-strapped Florida, they are people in need and a costly reality. Immigration--legal and illegal--is a Federal problem, but Washington is not offering concrete solutions and Floridians are picking up the tab for an estimated 345,000 illegals. In 1992, the cost to Floridians of this non-policy was $793 million. In desperation, Florida's Governor Chiles has filed a lawsuit to pursue reimbursement. The 25-member Florida congressional delegation strongly supports his effort. After lessons learned during NAFTA, I hope the administration does not intend to ignore the fourth largest delegation on the hill. It is time for Washington to pay up.”