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Congressional Budget for the United States Government for the Fiscal Year 2006

Date: March 17, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Federal, State and Local Relations Immigration


CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET FOR THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2006 -- (Senate - March 17, 2005)

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Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I also want to express my gratitude to the Senator from California for taking the leadership on this issue again this year.

This is a common theme among those of us who represent border States, to ask the Federal Government to live up to its responsibilities. It is clear that the cost of housing aliens who are committing crimes in our country is a Federal responsibility. Yet for year upon year upon year they have thrust that burden on the States, and indeed on the counties at the local level.

In my State, about 8,700 criminal aliens have been detained at a cost of roughly three times what this provision would reimburse my State. This is about one-third of the money that is a Federal responsibility that would go back to my State and the States that bear that Federal expense.

I am all for the Federal Government living within its means, and I support this budget at the top-line number. I think part of budgeting is not only living within your means but it is making sure you fund your priorities. It is arguably a Federal priority to deal with the detention of illegal aliens who come into the country and commit crimes. It is a scandal that this sense of the Senate is even necessary again this year.

I want to express in closing again my gratitude to Senator Feinstein for taking the leadership on this, and I certainly commend this to our colleagues.

I yield the floor.

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