[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 132 (Monday, September 29, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CITIZENSHIP REFORM ACT OF 1997

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Bilbray] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BILBRAY. Madam Speaker, let me first say, as one of the original 
cosponsors of the bipartisan campaign finance legislation, I would ask 
those of us on both sides of the aisle who truly want to see this body 
finally address that issue to go to our colleagues and ask them to quit 
the dilatory procedures in asking for adjournment after adjournment so 
we can get through the budgetary process, not have to have a CR, not 
have to be threatened with the close-down of the Government. And then 
we can address the issue that we all want to take a look at, especially 
those of us who cosponsored the bipartisan campaign finance reform.
  That set aside, I am here to specifically address an issue of 
fairness and an issue of common sense. It is the bill that is called 
H.R. 7. It is the Citizenship Reform Act of 1997. It amends the 
Naturalization Act to stop giving automatic citizenship to the children 
of illegal aliens and tourists. It is basically there because those of 
us who have worked in local government and had to address this issue in 
local communities realize that it is a much bigger issue than what most 
people say.
  I served as a county supervisor in a county in California. We came to 
the conclusion that Washington has to quit giving incentives to people 
to break our immigration laws. Madam Speaker, in California, in fact in 
Los Angeles County alone, there are over 250,000 citizen children of 
illegal aliens who qualify for such benefits as Medicare, AFDC, WIC, 
SSI. And, de facto, their parents get that money rewarded to them for 
breaking the law and having a child here. We are talking about two-
thirds of the births in the largest populated county in the United 
States, Los Angeles County, and those public hospitals, are children of 
illegal aliens. We are talking about a cost in California alone to the 
State of California of over $500 million annually in providing health 
care services to the children of illegal aliens.
  Now, some people may say that 40 percent of all births paid by 
Medicare in California going to illegal aliens is not that big a deal 
because it is California. But, Madam Speaker, all of the United States 
pays for this and all the people of the United States bear the 
responsibility of sending the wrong message, and that is, we will 
reward people for breaking our laws and punish those who wait 
patiently.
  This loophole needs to be closed. It is not the responsibility of an 
illegal alien to close this loophole. It is not their fault that 
Washington has invited people in to get paid for breaking the law. The 
fact is, this loophole falls on our shoulders. It is not the mother of 
illegal aliens that should be blamed. It is Washington and our lack of 
commitment to fairness and common sense.
  In Texas alone, there were fraudulent birth certificates sold to 
foreigners just so they can gain access to these public benefits. In 
fact, in one county in Texas, over 3,800 phony birth certificates were 
sold to the mothers so their children could get this automatic 
citizenship. Eighty-nine people today are being indicted, and over 
$400,000 worth of welfare fraud has been identified.
  Now, granting automatic citizenship to the illegal aliens in this 
country is one of those terrible bait and switches that we say, come on 
in, break our laws, and we will reward you. We are talking fairness 
here, because there are thousands of would-be immigrants who are 
waiting patiently to immigrate into this country who do not get these 
benefits because their children were born while they were waiting.
  The other issue is, what is really the difference between an illegal 
immigrant who comes in with a child who is 1 year old in their arms? Do 
they not have as much need for service as somebody who came across and 
gave birth right after getting on U.S. soil? It is totally absurd, and 
we have got to talk about the fairness.
  Madam Speaker, there are those who will say that it is 
unconstitutional not to give everyone on U.S. soil automatic U.S. 
citizenship. I remind you, the children of diplomats do not get 
automatic citizenship and the children of certain tribes did not get 
automatic citizenship until 1924. The 14th amendment has never been 
clarified by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has never ruled on 
the right of illegal alien children to get automatic citizenship.
  I think it is the obligation of Congress, under the fifth section of 
the 14th amendment, to raise this issue, bring it forth, and let the 
chips fall where they might. Why are people so scared of fairness? Why 
are they so scared of taking care of this?
  Madam Speaker, I close with the fact that we have 51 bipartisan 
cosponsors. A hearing was held on June 25. We are looking forward to 
the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Smith] chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Immigration and Claims, setting a date in October. I encourage everyone 
to join with us, call your Congressman, let us address this issue 
fairly and up front.

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