Mr. Chairman. I rise In support of the DiazBalart/Meek amendment to postpone the cutoff of SSI and Medicaid payments to legal Im. migrants. This Is a commonsense amendment that not only addresses the Inadequacies of the welfare reform law. but it gives Congress end the administration time to make good on their word to restore benefits to legal Immigrants. I think many of my colleagues would agree tlet the old welfare system. as structured. needed significant change and a refocus upon the basic goals of getting families back on their leet. parents back to work. and children back Into more secure financial situations as soon as possible. In finally enacting welfare relorre. tough and pragmalic choices had to be made In order to transform the system to one that more effectively facilitates movement from welfare to work. However some effects of the welfare law are just plain wrong. Legal Immigrants have been forced to shoulder a disproportionate amount of the cuts. which amounting in a crushing burden on such individuals and lamilies. Passage of the DiazBalart/Meek amendment. and other proposals like It. has become crucially Important given the potential Impact of the welfare reform bill on legal immigrants. We must face the facts. welfare reform has a long way to go--it wasnt handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai. Sadly. the Republican leadership is reluctant to fully recognize the repercussions of the welfare reform legislation and shows no dear Inclination to act In a timelv fashion on the limited changes much lass the broad problems with the legal immigrants. In my home district of St. Paul.
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immigrants migrants Immigrants