The magnitude of this unfunded mandate imposed on schools could drive thousands of schools off the school lunch and breakfast program. The National Conference of State Legislatures are also concerned that the bill. as written. places a huge unfunded mandate on local schools. local governments. and State agencies. This bill also inflicts complex sponsor deeming procedures regarding legal immigrants in most Federal programs. including child nutrition programs. and WIC. "Deeming". the practice of counting a sponsors income as that of an immigrants when calculating eligibility for Federal programs. would add unnecessary bureaucratic burdens on local and State administrators. schools. child care providers. and WIC clinics. Those already burdened will be forced to spend more time filling out forms and less time providing for the poor and disadvantaged. States like Vermont. with very few immigrants. will still be affected by the additional administrative burden. Also. denying these benefits to pregnant immigrant women will lead to increased costs for taxpayers. It is estimated that for every dollar WIC spends on pregnant women $3 is saved in future Medicaid costs. We will end up paying far more through Medicaid to take care of children with low birth rates.
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immigrant immigrants