I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I would like to take this opportunity to address and explain two provisions contained in the Republican welfare reform bill. a bill which I fully support because it fixes our broken welfare system. As we are all aware. the Personal Responsibility Act rightfully prohibits illegal aliens from receiving aid under all federal and state means tested public benefits programs. The bill also bars legal nonimmigrants like students. tourists and businessmen from receiving the same benefits. with a few exceptions. One of these exceptions allows temporary agricultural workers to remain eligible for medical services provided through migrant health centers and a few other means tested programs. We are not explaining the eligibility of these workers for other benefit programs. merely allowing them to remain in the programs for which they are currently eligible. It is important to note that employers request these workers be brought Into the United States. and the request is only granted after the employer demonstrates that all measures have been used to employ U.S. citizens for the vacant positions. The alien workers enter the country legally and are paid the same rate as a U.S. citizen would be employed in the same position. These workers are. again. legally here for a specific time and for a specific reason. It seems appropriate that these invited workers should be able to receive limited assistance like medical attention at a migrant health center. Let me now address the school meal provisions included in the bill. Although liberals consider me something of a pinchpenny. even most severe critics had never accused me of scheming to take food from the mouths of impoverished children.
Keywords matched
migrant illegal aliens