[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 104 (Thursday, June 20, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H4923]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ABANDON PLAN FOR ANTI-IMMIGRANT PUBLIC CHARGE RULE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to demand that the 
Trump administration stop its assault on immigrant communities and 
abandon its plan on public charge.
  Now let me be clear: No one should be denied a visa due to their 
possible, potential need for public assistance, also known as public 
charge. It is beyond appalling that the Department of Homeland Security 
is using this criterion to prevent deserving families from coming to 
the United States.
  This heartless and un-American proposed rule also makes it extremely 
difficult for individuals who are seeking a new life in the United 
States to receive a green card if they are considered likely to use 
public benefits in the future.
  If this rule is implemented, the Trump administration would expand 
the list of programs to include SNAP, Medicaid, and housing assistance 
to determine permanent residency.
  Madam Speaker, basic programs are there to help struggling families 
put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads when they need 
it. Denying immigrant families green card status with this criterion is 
just plain wrong.
  This anti-immigrant rhetoric is not new, Madam Speaker. For over 100 
years, the Federal Government has used the argument of public charge in 
immigration law for inadmissibility or deportation. Public charge was 
first created when the 47th Congress passed the Immigration Act of 
1882. This restricted certain individuals from migrating to the United 
States.
  This legislation specifically targeted unmarried women who were 
presumed to be a so-called public charge because employers would not 
employ them, leading the government to take care of them, which is 
ridiculous.
  But it wasn't just women that this law targeted. It was also 
immigrants from Asia. As many of us are aware, fear of Chinese laborers 
was part of the anti-immigrant rhetoric of the time. There was 
widespread fear of the Chinese influence on the economy and the racist 
perception that these immigrants would not contribute to American 
society.
  This fear was compounded when Chinese immigrants started to bring 
their families to America and use public infrastructure, such as 
schools and hospitals.
  One of my constituents, Dr. Elaine Kim, who lives in Berkeley, 
California, experienced this discrimination firsthand. In her own 
words, she said: ``I am 76, and I am a child of immigrants who arrived 
in this country in 1903 and 1926, respectively. My parents were not 
allowed by law to become naturalized citizens and faced very serious 
racial discrimination in their lifetimes. But they both worked hard, 
harder than most native-born Americans, all their lives. They 
contributed importantly to the United States and never, ever caused any 
legal, social, or economic problems to anyone in this country.
  ``At 76, I have also worked hard and consider myself a model U.S. 
citizen. Putting myself through school at a time when most women, and 
certainly most women of color, faced many obstacles, I finally finished 
a Ph.D. degree. I served the public for 44 years until I recently 
retired.
  ``When I was an impoverished single mother, I received help from both 
the Maternity and Infant Care Project and unemployment insurance. Now, 
after working hard and raising a family of hardworking, well-educated 
children, I receive a modest Social Security check each month as well 
as Medicare, though I have kept myself in good enough health as to not 
need much from this entitlement program.''
  Dr. Kim and her family came to the United States and contributed 
greatly to our Nation. They used public benefits when hardships 
occurred, but they paid it back in many ways when they no longer needed 
the benefits to help their family get by.
  The Trump administration is trying to create discriminatory policies 
that would restrict families such as Dr. Kim's from even entering the 
country. This harmful, xenophobic argument evokes fear and scapegoats 
immigrant communities.
  Let's get straight to the facts. This country was built and continues 
to stand on the strength of immigrants. We know that a little help for 
our hardworking immigrant families reaps exponential returns to our 
economy and society.
  Immigrants contribute in taxes, and they should be able to use social 
services when they need it, just like every other person in our Nation 
who pays taxes. Our immigrant community should not be seen as a drain 
on America but as an investment in our future. We are one Nation.
  In closing, I want to reiterate that it is the constitutional duty of 
Congress to write our immigration laws and ensure that they are 
equitable to all individuals, regardless of race, age, or socioeconomic 
status. That is why, last week, during the Homeland Security 
appropriations markup, I offered an amendment along with Congressmen 
Price, Pocan, and Aguilar that would make it clear that no Federal 
funds can be used to expand public charge.
  We must defeat this anti-immigrant and un-American public charge 
rule. I hope that all of my colleagues will stand up and demand that 
the administration abandon this plan once and for all.

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