[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 41 (Friday, March 9, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H2344]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING THE STATE CRIMINAL ALIEN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

  (Ms. GIFFORDS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. GIFFORDS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for 
fully funding the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, also known 
as SCAAP, at its authorized level for fiscal year 2008 at $950 million.
  This program, which reimburses State and local governments for the 
cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants, is vital to border States 
such as Arizona, where we disproportionately pay a higher amount than 
our fair share of incarceration.
  Underfunding SCAAP places a significant cost burden on our local law 
enforcement, stretching their resources and hampering their ability to 
protect our communities.
  All of the counties in my district, Pima, Cochise, Pinal and Santa 
Cruz, are reimbursed less than 10 percent of the amount of 
incarcerating illegal immigrants. This places an unfair cost burden on 
our local communities. Given the importance of homeland security and 
law enforcement, it is absolutely essential that we receive full 
funding for SCAAP. I believe that Members of Congress on both sides of 
the aisle would agree that reimbursement should be a Federal priority.

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