Chairman. I rise today to oppose this welfare reform bill. It contains provisions which discriminate against legal Immigrants by denying them access to programs that they have paid for with their taxes and their contributions to the Social Security and unemployment insurance systems. This extreme Republican legislation would bar legal immigrants from receiving Medicaid. Food Stamps. disability aid. and other critical programs which provide a safety net to citizens and noncitizens alike. Mr. Chairman. it seems unAmerican to deny legal residents access to programs that they have already paid for through taxes and payroll deductions. Indeed. it should be noted that legal immigrants pay far more in taxes than they receive in benefits. According to the Urban Institute. legal and undocumented immigrants pay approximately $70.3 billion per year in taxes. but receive only $42.9 billion in services such as education and public assistance. Mr. Chairman. like the other bills in the Republican contract. this bill targets the weak and defenseless.
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undocumented noncitizens immigrants Immigrants