House committee report indicates $22.3 for more than scanners . . .
Here is the excerpt referred to by Weygand. It precedes any amendments delaying implementation from March 1. There is no breakdown on the allocation within the $22.3 million:
"Fingerprinting of Applicants and Procedures for Criminal Record Checks- The Committee has included two provisions that address the INS fingerprinting process for applicant benefits. Bill language is included that requires INS to wait for the FBI to complete a full criminal history check before completing the adjudication of an application. This will ensure that flawed practices, namely
waiting 60 days for a response by the FBI on a criminal record check and then proceeding with completion of an application for citizenship even if the FBI check had not been completed, will by law no longer be allowed to occur. In addition, in order to establish integrity in the fingerprint process, bill language is included that prohibits INS from accepting fingerprints for applicant benefits from any outside source other than a law enforcement agency, that is all applicant fingerprinting must be completed at INS offices or a State or local law enforcement agency. In addition, beginning March 1, 1998, INS is required to fingerprint all applicants for benefits under the immigration and Nationality Act which require a criminal record check, who are required to be interviewed at an INS office. Fingerprints can still be prepared by a State and local law enforcement agency in cases where an applicant is not required to be interviewed at an INS office. In order to implement this provision,
the Committee recommendation includes $22,300,000 from direct appropriations to support the purchase and installation of live fingerprint scanners in all INS field offices and card scanners at the Service Centers, additional staff to take fingerprints and associated training, additional space and supplies, and staff to conduct audit and oversight activities."
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I still think Kessler's wrong. But we won't have a full $22.3 million coming for hardware. |
