[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 15, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S3196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                STUDY ON TAX CONTRIBUTIONS OF IMMIGRANTS

  Mr. KENNEDY. As tax day is here, it is worth considering the 
contributions of legal immigrants to Uncle Sam.
  A new study by the Library of Congress highlights the extraordinary 
level of Federal taxes paid by legal immigrants. Recent immigrants--
including both those who have not yet naturalized and those who have 
become citizens--paid an estimated $55 billion in Federal income taxes 
in 1995. Without immigration, the Government would have had $55 billion 
less to pay for key services or deficit reduction.
  We have long known of the major contributions of immigrants in 
developing innovative technologies, creating jobs for American workers, 
vitalizing our inner cities, serving in our Armed Forces, and in many 
other ways. But this report also shows that immigrants pay their way in 
Federal taxes.
  The $55 billion that recent immigrants contributed is almost three 
times what the Federal Government will spend this year on law 
enforcement to deal with crime. It is twice what the Federal Government 
will invest in education. It is nine times the budget of the 
Environmental Protection Agency.
  Often in recent years, Congress has been too quick to engage in 
immigrant-bashing, or too slow to recognize the immense contributions 
of immigrants to the Nation's heritage and history. Studies like this 
help to redress the balance, by demonstrating the continuing important 
role of immigration in our modern society.

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