Such cuts to funding benefits erode the integrity of the safety net. I say again that we are trading in an imperfect system for one that may prove much worse. Legal immigrants are clearly among those who will be hurt by passage of this bill. I support the immigration bill now in Congress and Its effort to make immigrants and their sponsors responsible for immigrants welfare. But this bill goes far beyond those provisions. There are over 3.000 aged or disabled legal immigrants receiving SSI benefits In New Mexico who may abruptly be cut off If this bill becomes law. and thousands more immigrants who have no sponsor for any number of reasons who may also lose benefits under this bill. In the course of this debate. the Senate rejected an amendment that would have permitted States to use funds from their Federal block grant to offer vouchers to maintain basic noncash benefits such as food. clothing. and shelter for children if their parents benefits expire after 5 years. The refusal of the Senate to allow States to provide such vouchers will hurt New Mexico. where one third of the children less than 6 years oldalmost 50.000live In families with incomes below the poverty level.
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