[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 24, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           STATE OF THE UNION

                                 ______


                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 24, 1996

  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, last night President Clinton delivered a 
good speech. Our hope is that he follows his words with his deeds. 
President Clinton acknowledged in his address last night the need to 
pay special attention to our problems with illegal immigration.
  However, President Clinton forgot to mention to the American people 
that he vetoed a bill which would have provided Californians $1.6 
billion in reimbursement funds over the next 5 years for the costs of 
providing health care to illegal immigrants. He also vetoed the 1996 
Commerce-State-Justice Appropriations Act, thus denying Californians 
more than $300 million as reimbursement for the cost of incarcerating 
alien felons.
  Mr. President, your actions speak louder than words; and words alone 
will not solve our problem. This lack of attention has a human cost. 
Last year at San Diego's border with Mexico, a Border Partol agent fell 
to his death while chasing illegal immigrants. Last week, a man trying 
to evade U.S. Border Partol agents plunged to his death, and five other 
men were injured when they ran off a 120-foot cliff near Otay Lakes 
Dam.
  Words are hollow if they are not backed up with actions. Our hope in 
the California delegation is that President Clinton joins us with the 
force of his actions, as we address these difficult immigration 
problems.

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