William Bryan: “I want to call the attention of my colleagues a situation, which I discovered during our recent December recess, dealing…”

“I want to call the attention of my colleagues a situation, which I discovered during our recent December recess, dealing with public housing. Since 1980, the law has been clear that those who are illegal immigrants are not entitled to occupy public housing. So I was somewhat astonished in visiting with a housing authority director in my own State and to have him tell me that in the city of Reno, he would estimate that approximately 10 percent, maybe a little more, maybe a little less of those who occupy public housing are, in fact, illegal immigrants. At the same time, in the city of Reno--and I think this is replicated throughout the country--there are some 500 families waiting to occupy public housing. So I asked the question, well, if it is illegal for them to occupy public housing, why have you not done something about it? That, Mr. President, is an astonishing story. In 1982, 1984, and 1986, apparently, efforts were made to implement by regulation what the statute establishes by way of policy. Through a series of administrative or bureaucratic delays and obfuscation, in fact, none of these regulations have been implemented.”