Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite is offering an amendment to the pending Border Control and Contractor Accountability Act of 2007 (H.R. 3496) to ensure that the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) work with the Small Business Administration to see that only qualified applicants receive SBA loans.
"America is the land of opportunity, and small business owners make up the backbone of our economy," said Mrs. Brown-Waite, Florida Republican. "However, Congress cannot continue to encourage and foster small businesses in our nation if we do not first take care of American citizens and those who are here legally.
"My simple amendment will ensure that Small Business loans and grants are going to those who followed the immigration rules we have in place."
The Small Business Act says that only those lawfully in the United States can receive SBA funds. H.R. 3496, written by Mrs. Brown-Waite, would debar or suspend contractors from federal contracting for unlawful employment of illegal aliens.
Mrs. Brown-Waite, who has emerged as a champion for immigration enforcement, also is the author of legislation designed to "send a loud and clear message" to a growing number of "sanctuary cities" across the country, saying those who offer safe harbor to illegal aliens will not be tolerated.
Her pending bill would make illegal immigration a felony and would clarify that state and local law enforcers have existing authority to investigate, identify, apprehend, arrest, detain and transfer to federal authorities any illegal alien apprehended in the course of routine duties.
Known as the Accountability in Enforcing Immigration Laws Act of 2007, that bill also would require ICE agents to take illegal aliens into custody or pay state and local governments the per-diem rate to detain them until they are removed.
The bill faces an uphill fight in Congress since Republicans are in the minority. Previous efforts to pass similar legislation failed, but the newly proposed measure has drawn support from state and local government officials.
— Jerry Seper, national reporter, The Washington Times
