They are just one of many elderly Russian familiesfamilies that because of mental or physical disability. stand to lose their SS benefits later this summer. It Is for them. and for countless others. that compelled a bipartisan group of Senators to seek changes in the law to protect elderly people. Let me emphasize to my colleagues that our efforts on behalf of disabled legal immigrants does not alter the key policy changes made in last years welfare and immigration reform bills. Our efforts do not alter the basic policy change made last year that sponsors of legal immigrants need to take more financial responsibility for legal Immigrants. Newly arrived immigrants still will have to abide by the 1996 welfare and immigration laws. Again. were here to help those already here. those already disabled Immigrants who played by the rules. Although Congress and the President have made a commitment to help this population. it may not be until the beginning of the fiscal year before that relief Is provided. We cannot hold disabled. legal immigrants hostage to the legislative process. especially when they stand to lose benefits In a few short months. Again. our efforts have boon bipartisan. I want to commend the chairman of the Appropriations Committee and the chairman of the Finance Committee. Senator STEVENS and Senator litrm. and of course our majority leader. Senator to=. for working to place a temporary measure in the existing bill. The amendment we offer today simply expands that effort. to ensure that all Immigrants who stand to retain their benefits because of the budget agreement are not denied benefits while the details of this agreement are worked out. What this amendment offers is ertaintythe certainty that these immigrants will continue to receive benefits for an additional 6 weeks. In short. the budget agreement reflects our longterm commitment to fairness. By passing this amendment. we can take a shortterm first step to realize that longterm goal.
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