Very legitimate change in the SSI Program due to a court decision which we have discussed on the floor many times. We have. in fact. loosened the provisions in this bill from the provision that passed the Senate just a few months ago. We said with respect to noncitizens in SSI that they would never be eligible for SSI until they had worked 40 quarters and would be eligible through the Social Security System. We now allow for people who are noncitizens. legal noncitizens to qualify for SSI benefits if they become a citizen. So citizenship. something many Members on the Democratic side of the aisle voted for in an amendment that was here that was narrowly defeated in the Chamber. we have now conceded the point that they lost here on the Senate floor and loosened the eligibility requirements for SSI. another reason we have moved more toward them as opposed to away from them in this bill. One thing that we did add is we added to the SSI requirement for legal noncitizens--I should not say requirement. the SSI ineligibility for legal noncitizens. the State has an option as it did in the original bill to eliminate cash welfare. Medicaid and title 20 services if they so desire. If you look at probably the last argument that Members of the other side will have in searching for reasons not to vote for this legislation. it will be that we end the tie between welfare. people on AFDC and Medicaid.
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noncitizens