[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1867-E1868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING STATES TO DENY PUBLIC EDUCATION BENEFITS TO CERTAIN ALIENS 
               NOT LAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES

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                               speech of

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 25, 1996

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 
4134.
  It is indeed a sad day in the long history of our country when 
Members of this esteemed body must come to this Chamber to plead that 
the right to an education given to all children in this country by our 
Constitution should not be violated.
  There is no question that we all want to protect our borders. The 
fact is, however, that H.R. 4134 will do nothing to stem the flow of 
illegal immigration or lessen the burden on our schools. It will, 
instead, significantly reduce the quality of life for all Americans. 
The bill will substantially increase costs to school districts and 
State and local governments by requiring them to use scarce resources 
to act as INS agents to document the legal status of all students.
  And, there is no doubt that foreign appearing and speaking children 
will be discriminated against. This bill will only serve to create a 
climate of fear and distrust in which the children of U.S. citizens may 
also be harassed, or prevented from enrolling in school if they are 
unable to provide the necessary documents.

[[Page E1868]]

  H.R. 4134 is not a viable alternative to sensible immigration control 
policies. All this bill will accomplish is to put thousands of children 
on the streets and either tempt them to turn to crime or make them 
vulnerable to the influence of gangs.
  That very real danger is precisely why numerous law enforcement 
officials, school teachers and administrators, and police associations 
are opposed to H.R. 4134.
  Mr. Speaker, we must not crush the future of thousands of children 
whose only crime is their desire to go to school and to earn an 
education, as is their right under the U.S. Constitution.
  I urge my colleagues to take a stand in preserving this important 
constitutional right by defeating H.R. 4134.

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