Speech #1050065756

And it gave the States the option of permanently banning them from these programs. Americans across the country were rightly concerned about these unfair provisions. and Congress soon agreed that the legislation had gone too far. If the provisions of last years welfare law remain in effect. many elderly legal immigrants would be forced out of nursing homes. Legal immigrants injured on the job and those with disabled children would lose assistance. Some 500.000 legal immigrants who were already living in the United States would have been affected. In Massachusetts. 15.000 elderly and disabled legal immigrants would have lost their SSI benefits. Some said in last years welfare debate. "Let the immigrants sponsor support them." But. Congress now realizes that legal Immigrants often do not have sponsors. Refugees. for example. do not have sponsors. In cases of many older immigrants. their sponsor has died or Is no longer able to provide support. Immigrants affected by last years harsh cuts are individuals who came to this country legally. Many are close family members of American citizens. They play by the rules. pay their taxes. and serve in our Armed Forces. They are future citizens trying to make their way in this country. The .$12 billion restored for legal immigrant assistance over the next 5 years In this bill is urgently needed. It will allow most legal immigrants who currently receive SSI benefits to stay on the rolls. In addition. legal immigrants who were in the United States at this time last years welfare bill was enacted in August 1996 can receive SSI In the future if they become disabled. These changes will help a very large number of people hurt by the welfare law. Unfortunately. those who are too disabled to go through the process of naturalization to become citizens are left out of the final bill. I proposed an amendment. which was accepted by the Senate. to receive SSI benefits after their first 5 years In the United States. and I hope we can revisit this important issue in the near future. I had also hoped the final budget agreement would allow legal immigrant children to continue to receive Medicaid. Currently. they are banned from Medicaid for 5 years. Some States may even act to ban legal immigrant children from Medicaid forever. The Senate bill included a ChafeeGraham amendment to enable these children to receive Medicaid benefits. and I regret that it was dropped from the first bill. There is still much more to be done to correct the problems created for legal immigrants by last years welfare bill. The Senate version of this bill restored less than 50 percent of the cuts made last year in their benefits. We are making worthwhile progress in this legislation. and I intend to do all I can to see that additional progress is made in future legislation.