Bob Goodlatte: “However, I must strongly oppose the motion to accept the Senate language here, because to do so would be irresponsible.…”

“However, I must strongly oppose the motion to accept the Senate language here, because to do so would be irresponsible. The fact of the matter is that while there are certainly people here who are in need of assistance, it is definitely not the case that everybody that the Senate language would cover would fit into that category, and it is also not the case that the people that would be covered are as described by the gentleman. For example, he refers to tax-paying legal residents. Well, it is not a requirement under the Senate language that the individual have ever paid a penny in taxes in order to receive these benefits. It only requires that they have been in this country as a lawful, permanent resident for 5 years.”