Capitol Monitor ....
Congressman J. Randy Forbes, Fourth District of Virginia 

May 18, 2007

HOME
CONTACT
UNSUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
PRIVACY

 

In this Issue

 1. Wiping the Slate Clean

2. National Safe Boating Week

 

 

:: Wiping the Slate Clean ::  

 

An old friend of mine used to tell the story of how he “resolved” banking issues as a young person right out of college. Whenever he couldn’t get his account to reconcile properly, or whenever he would bounce a check, or whenever he would outspend his savings, he simply would close his account and reopen a new bank account some place else down the road. In his young—and perhaps inexperienced—mind, opening a new bank account was a way to “wipe the slate clean” and start over. What he failed to realize at his young age was that he was never really addressing the true issue at hand—the fact that he didn’t know how to properly manage his money. To him, the quick fix was the best fix. He lacked understanding that, in the long run, it would end up costing him more money with charges and fees that would catch up with him eventually. He also failed to see that he would lose out on the advantages and savings that would come with establishing a relationship with one bank over time.

Although maybe not to this extreme, we all do this in some way or another. In my house, it seems we always “clear out” the closet, spare room, or garage where unused things have piled up, only to find that we’ve created another place to store the extra stuff somewhere else in the house a few weeks later. We fail to address the real issue of just getting rid of things we don’t use or need. We usually find a temporary feeling of satisfaction and success, but after time, we find ourselves “wiping the slate clean” again.

The same thing is true with illegal immigration in the United States. In 1986, there were an estimated 3 million illegal immigrants in the United States. In response, Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), which provided amnesty for undocumented immigrants already present in the country. IRCA provided $1 billion for four fiscal years to reimburse states for the public assistance, health, and education costs that resulted from legalizing these illegal immigrants. Many researchers have found that this total, which when adjusted for inflation is nearly $7.5 billion, was wholly inadequate to cover the true cost that came with granting blanket amnesty to 3 million illegal immigrants.

Over 20 years later, we now estimate that there are anywhere from 11 to 20 million illegal immigrants in the United States. If we rightly assume that it would at least take what was inadequately allotted in 1986 to cover the burden of cost, we could say that the government would have to provide states with anywhere from $26.5 billion to nearly $50 billion to cover the burden of cost caused by illegal immigration!

And if we continue down this path, 20 years from now, we could have 50 million illegal immigrants in the United States, who, if granted amnesty, would require at least $120 billion without adjusting for future inflation.

The numbers of illegal immigrants and the costs they impose are certainly startling, and it is clear that illegal immigrants are costing hard-working American taxpayers billions of dollars each year. Medical services and education for illegal immigrants alone cost billions of dollars, which doesn’t even consider the way illegal immigrants are severely impacting the labor market. Research by the Federation for American Immigration Reform suggests that an estimated 1,880,000 American workers not only lost wages, but their jobs because of competition from illegal immigrants. The cost for providing welfare to those Americans is $15 billion a year. Taxpayers are also paying half-a-billion dollars per year to incarcerate illegal immigrant criminals. Illegal immigration drains our economy and places unwarranted strain on hardworking Americans.

Despite these facts, there are some who believe that we should grant amnesty to the millions of immigrants in our country today who are here illegally. This week, Senate negotiations finished an agreement on an immigration bill that would grant amnesty to the millions of illegal immigrants in our country after border security is increased. And there is a similar bill in the House of Representatives. Rep. Luis Gutierrez and Rep. Jeff Flake have introduced the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007, also known as the STRIVE Act. The Flake-Gutierrez bill grants an almost guaranteed pathway to citizenship for most of the illegal immigrants in the United States by providing two-step amnesty. First, illegal immigrants become "conditional nonimmigrants.” and then, after six years of work in the U.S., they, and their spouses and children who have also been here illegally, can become permanent residents.

The provisions of the Flake-Gutierrez bill are overwhelmingly devastating in terms of the economic, legal, social, and cultural ramifications. The following are just some of the provisions found in the Flake-Gutierrez bill:

- Illegal immigrants who seek amnesty through the Flake-Gutierrez bill do not have to pay back taxes for any period before they became “conditional non-immigrants.” Even for taxes owed during their six-year working period, illegal immigrants only have to “agree” to eventually pay the IRS.

- The Flake-Gutierrez bill requires American taxpayers to fund grants to private organizations to help illegal immigrants apply for amnesty.

- Illegal immigrants are not eligible for welfare. However, once they are granted amnesty and become citizens, they are eligible for billions of dollars in public assistance. The estimated eventual cost to American taxpayers to cover this public assistance is $30 billion per year.

- Amnesty recipients will receive Social Security benefits based on their illegal work, so this will take away from the Social Security trust fund of billions of dollars needed to pay for retirement for Americans.

- The Flake-Gutierrez bill does not send illegal immigrants to the “back of the line”, which causes the millions of people who have obeyed our laws and are waiting for green cards overseas to be skipped over for the millions who broke the law.

- The Flake-Gutierrez bill will likely double legal immigration levels, increasing employment based green-cards by 150,000.

- The bill does not take any steps to combat immigrant gang violence.

Granting mass amnesty is essentially an act of “wiping the slate clean.” At the surface, it might seem to be the quickest fix to solve the immigration crisis, but such a drastic act will end up costing us billions in the long run without ever addressing the true issue at hand—the need to enforce or tighten our existing immigration laws, deport those who refuse to respect our nation’s rule of law, and provide resources to state and local governments to partner with us in this endeavor. This act of mass amnesty not only hurts American workers and burdens American taxpayers, but it undermines the principle of American citizenship and rewards those who break the law. When we sell our citizenship for the price of a monetary fine and the stipulation to “learn” English, we are offending our sense of justice and devaluing the meaning and the pride of American citizenship.
 

 

:: National Safe Boating Week ::  

 

As Memorial Day weekend approaches, families all across the nation are making plans for neighborhood cook-outs, trips to the beach, and rounds of golf to kick off the summer vacation season. But perhaps one of the most popular Memorial Day weekend activities for families and friends is a trip out on the water for a relaxing day on the boat.

Although boating is a fun and relaxing activity, it can be dangerous if boaters do not follow boating safety guidelines. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that there were just over five fatalities per 100,000 registered boats in 2005, and of those fatalities, 87% of the victims were not wearing lifejackets. They also report that reckless operation, excessive speed, operator inexperience, and overall carelessness were the leading factors in boating accidents.

In an effort to increase awareness of boating safety during peak boating season, the National Safe Boating Council and the U.S. Coast Guard have established May 19 – 25 as National Safe Boating Week. This year’s National Safe Boating Week theme is “Wear It” to encourage boaters to properly wear a lifejacket while on the water.

The U.S. Coast Guard lists the following suggestions regarding lifejackets to increase your safety while boating:

- Buy your own life jacket and wear it - one size does not fit all.
- Look at the label for size and weight limitations.
- Try it on and check the fit. With straps and buckles secured, the life jacket should not slip over your head or cover your eyes.
- Make sure the life jacket is Coast Guard approved.
- Replace your life jacket if you find air leakage, mildew or rot.
- Never alter a life jacket. It could lose its effectiveness.
- Check your life jackets yearly for floatation and fit.
- Wear a life jacket to set an example for younger children while increasing your chances of survival.
- Take a Safe Boating course.

For additional education resources, quizzes, and coloring page for kids to help prepare your family for summer boating activities, visit the National Safe Boating Week Go Boating website.

SPOTLIGHT ....

Listen to Congressman Forbes Discuss the Tuition Crisis

 

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

 

ON THE HILL ....

Current Floor Proceedings

Bills Coming Up This Week

Monthly Whip Calendar

OFFICE LOCATIONS ....

307 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202.225.6365

505 Independence Pkwy, Suite 104
Chesapeake, VA 23320
757.382.0080

2903 Boulevard, Suite B
Colonial Heights, VA 23834
804.526.4969

425 H. South Main Street
Emporia, VA 23847
434.634.5575

Please do not reply to this message. This e-mail address does not accept incoming messages. To send an email, please click here.