Speech #960239408

This amendment was originally contained in S. 1070 which was introduced by Senator PERCY and H.R. 5197. which I introduced on September 7. 1979. I introduced a similar bill in the 95th Congress. Our current immigration law requires. as a condition of entry for certain categories of aliens. that they have a sponsor who is a citizen or permanent resident of the United States. As a condition for granting an immigration visa to the alien. the sponsor promises the Government that the immigrant will not become a public charge. The law. however. permits a new immigrant to apply for and receive supplemental security income (SSI) benefits only 30 days after arrival in the country. Because the courts have ruled that the sponsors promise to support the immigrant is nothing but a "moral obligation." many 5ponsors choose to take advantage of this loophole and have reneged on their promises of assuming full financial responsibility for the newly arrived alien. As a result of this loophole in the law. responsibility for financial support of the immigrant is shifted from the immigrant and his sponsor to the taxpayers. The PercyCorcoran provision closes this loophole by requiring 3years residency in the United States for an alienother than a political refugeeto qualify for SSI. unless blind or disabled subsequent to entering this country. Also. their sponsors are required to agree in a legally enforceable affidavit to support the alien financially for 3 years at a level necessary to maintain the aliens income at the amount to which the alien would be entitled. if he were eligible for SSI. While the final version of this provision is not as strong as my original bill. I believe that the documentation which is required to be submitted to the Secretary of Health and Human Services by the sponsor and immigrant in order that an alien may be eligible for SSI benefits during the 3 years after entry into the United States provides sufficient safeguards so that the abuses of our immigration laws will be curbed. I would. therefore. urge my colleagues to accept this provision which will correct this situation which has outraged the American public for several years and vote for the conference report.