Murder of Americans in Indonesia

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues from California and Arizona to ask for support for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) and to ask that it be funded, at the very least, at last year's level of $565 million in fiscal year 2003 in the Commerce, Justice, State Appropriations Report. Before I continue, I want to thank my colleagues for their hard work and dedication to the upkeep of this program.
    
SCAAP reimburses States and counties for the costs associated with the incarceration of undocumented criminal aliens. Unfortunately, Federal efforts are often not adequate to combat illegal immigration. By some estimates, the total annual cost to States and local governments exceeds $1.6 billion. The broad principle on which the SCAAP Program is based is simple: the control of illegal immigration is a Federal responsibility. When the Federal Government falls short in its efforts to control illegal immigration, it must bear the responsibility for the financial and human consequences of this failure. Thus, the "State Criminal Alien Assistance Program Reauthorization Act" would properly vest the Federal Government the fiscal burden of incarcerating illegal immigrants who commit crimes in our communities.
    
Southwestern States are not the only ones shouldering the extraordinary financial burdens of this type of incarceration. Northern border and interior States are increasingly bearing these costs, too. SCAAP funding has been on the rise even in historically low immigration States and counties. It is important to note that SCAAP receives widespread bipartisan and bicameral support. I encourage my colleagues on the Commerce, Justice, and State Subcommittee to support this very important program to help alleviate the impact of these unfunded Federal mandates on State, and in particular, county governments.