Senate Floor Speech
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
June 22, 1999 -- Page: S9059

MRS. HUTCHISON. I would like to associate myself with the remarks of my colleagues with regard to the issue of funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP). SCAAP is a vital reimbursement program for states like mine that assists in the significant cost of incarcerating criminal aliens.

Although securing the border is the responsibility of the federal government, states and localities have had to bear the costs associated with incarcerating aliens should they enter the criminal justice system. In previous years, Congress has recognized their burden and worked to secure as much as $585 million for this critical program. Even at that level, less than 40% of Texas' costs of criminal alien incarceration have been reimbursed. Cutting SCAAP by over 80% as proposed in this measure would result in a reimbursement of only about 7% of the total cost to the State of Texas. It is estimated that the State of Texas would receive less than $7 million, and Texas counties would share in less than $3 million. Dallas County would receive less than $200,000 despite enduring costs of over $2.5 million; the County of El Paso, with costs exceeding $2.6 million, would be reimbursed only about $200,000; and Harris County, with costs nearing $14 million, would receive less than $1 million. Mr. President, this is the same Harris County that last week took custody in its county jail of the accused railway murderer, Angel Maturino-Resendez. In this case, Harris County is forced to assume the costs of detaining Maturino-Resendez, who is alleged to have repeatedly entered this country illegally and further alleged to have committed a string of stunningly violent murders across the United States. There could not be a more graphic illustration of why we need to support the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, so that our cities, counties and States are not left alone to pay the costs of the Federal government's failure to protect the border.

I pledge to work with the chairman to see that adequate funding can be restored to this vital program and appreciate the Senator from California bringing this important matter to the floor.