David Vitter: “the responses are very clear: . . . we have no basis for estimating how many noncitizens would match if this language…”

“the responses are very clear: . . . we have no basis for estimating how many noncitizens would match if this language were passed by Congress. Section 301 would not provide for verification of citizenship. . . . Our current name/SSN verification procedures will not detect legal aliens who are not naturalized citizens. They will not detect illegal aliens who have gotten Social Security numbers fraudulently. The . . . verification system in Section 301 would not identify individuals who have illegally overstayed a work Visa permit, And on and on. The record is perfectly clear, including from the Social Security Administration Commissioner, that there is nothing in the SCHIP legislation to prevent this fraud, to prevent these very significant costly benefits coming from the Federal taxpayers from going to illegal aliens in the country. Again, this is a glaring problem with this legislation. It is a glaring problem with many existing Federal benefits that we should address head on. Absent a solution to look at this carefully in the context of this legislation, I do not think it should move forward. Again, it is truly unfortunate that we have no ability to vote on this amendment on the Senate floor.”