Dreier Applauds $100 Million Increase In Federal Funding for Jailing Illegal Immigrants

November 4, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Dreier (R-San Dimas, CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, applauded action by a House-Senate conference committee today that will increase funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) by $100 million for Fiscal Year 2006. The final appropriation of $405 million is the amount approved by the House earlier this year, after a Dreier-sponsored amendment to increase the funding by $50 million was adopted. The original amount approved by the Senate for the program was $170 million. The entire conference report is expected to be approved by the House next week.

"This funding is a big win for California," Dreier said. "Our state bears the heavy financial burden of incarcerating illegal immigrants, even though stopping immigration is a federal responsibility. This increased funding will help local and state law enforcement cover these costs, and hopefully increase cooperation at all levels of government in the effort to stop illegal immigration."

Over the past five years, California has received nearly $900 million in SCAAP funding, totaling almost 40 percent of the program’s total funding. In addition, over the same period, Los Angeles County has received over $105 million from SCAAP and San Bernardino County has received close to $3 million. The amount approved by the conference committee today represents the highest amount approved for the program in four years.

Dreier praised the efforts of House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA) for his dedication to SCAAP and for fighting to keep the House passed number in the final agreement. "Jerry Lewis understands better than anybody how critical this funding is to our state. I thank Chairman Lewis for bringing such a strong number to the conference committee and then bringing the Senate to the House position. It’s another example of his strong leadership on this issue."

Lewis pointed to Dreier’s amendment as critical to securing a significant funding increase for SCAAP. "Chairman Dreier has fought for more SCAAP funding year after year. His constant focus on this vital program has yielded great results for California. I look forward to sending this conference report to the floor for final approval."