A hearing was held to consider S.2997, a bill which would provide financial assistance for school construction to local educational agencies educating large numbers of immigrant children born in Mexico. In opening remarks, Senator Lloyd Bentsen, Texas, explained that 58,000 Mexicans immigrated to the US in 1977; towns along the American border, the area with the lowest per capita income in the US today, felt severe impacts from increased school enrollments. The bill would authorize $45 million for emergency assistance; to be eligible, a school district must have a minimum enrollment of 7 percent Mexican alien children, with at least 20 such children enrolled. The bill would allow $1,000 per child. Witnesses included Tom Anderson of the Texas Education Agency and three school superintendents: Raul A. Besteiro, Jr., Brownsville, Texas; Gonzalo Garza, Eagle Pass, Texas; James K. Clark, Nogales, Arizona. Cris Aldrete of the Southwest Regional Border Commission also made a statement. Discussion centered around enrollment increases due to federal immigration policies (900 additional legal immigrant students yearly in Brownsville), tax bases, low per capita income, enrollment acceleration compared to national patterns, and responsibility for financing of school construction. (RS)