Chairman. I rise today In strong support of the DiazBalart/Meek amendment to postpone the cutoff of SSI payments to legal imimigrants until the end of fiscal year 1997. The budget agreement makes good on President ClIntons promise to restore some benefits to disabled legal immigrants. How. ever. this restoration will not occur soon enough for nearly 800.000 elderly and disabled legal immigrants who rely to SSI benefits for basic survival needs such as food and shelter. who have received notice that they may lose their benefits beginning in August. This amendment would delay that cutoff so that we may get serious about the business of restoring benefits for these people In such desperate need. Scores of frail and faltering immigrants have been driven to panic. A desperate few. at least five at last count. have been driven to suicide because of Impending starvation and helplessness. It is shameful that a country like ours al. lows vulnerable people to live with that kind of fear.
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immigrants