Nydia M. Velazquez: “Mr. Chairman, today every Member of this body has a chance to show their support for our children, not just immigrant…”

“Mr. Chairman, today every Member of this body has a chance to show their support for our children, not just immigrant children but U.S.- born children who are U.S. citizens. In a rush to show our constituents that this Congress can be tough on illegal immigration, something much worse has been achieved. This body is about to prove how harsh it can be, not on illegal immigration, but on American children. These antichild provisions are contained in section 607, whose supposed purpose is to bar illegal immigrants from receiving benefits. I would like to remind my colleagues that illegal immigrants are already barred from receiving benefits by current law. The only law this provision can claim to change is the 14th amendment of the Constitution. The actual effect of section 607 would be to keep over 100,000 U.S.- born children from having full access to public aid programs. And as Republican Mayor Rudolph Giuliani of New York has stated, this section is 'punitive and will result in enormous costs to State and local governments.' Mr. Chairman, our amendment fixes this problem by striking these provisions from the bill and allowing all U.S.-born children full access to benefits. If Members care about our children and about their constitutional rights, then vote 'yes' on this amendment. This section of the bill makes it virtually impossible for many American children to receive public benefits.”