Mr. President. I rise today to bring attention to a pressing problem for legal Immigrants in Washington State. that may also soon affect other States around the Nation. I urge you to support passage of amendment No. 134 to S. 672. the 1997 Supplemental Appropriations Act. This amendment simply gives the USDA authority to sell food stamps to - States. provided that all Federal costs are fully reimbursed. Under last years welfare law. certain legalimmigrants will soon be excluded from eligibility for the Federal Food Stamp Program. However. Congress granted States the flexibility to provide some assistance to legal immigrants with their own State funds. At the end of last month. Republicans and Democrats In the Washington State Legislature appropriated 366 million to grant food aid to nearly 40.000 legal immigrants. many of them children. who are not covered by Federal programs. By doing so. they issued a mandate for Gev. Gary Lockes administration to provide food assistance to these Immigrants. To carry out this mandate. the State wants to purchase food stamps from USDA. The State will pay all costs for administration. printing. shipping. and redeeming of the food stamps.
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