Unlike the House bill. the Senate bill creates over $1.2 billion in new mandatory spending. offset by administrative savings from the food stamp program. Programs to be funded with those savings. however worthy. should not take precedence over feeding hungry people. The food stamp program has already been drastically cut. and it is only fair that a substantial share of any food stamp savings should be reinvested in addressing the critical food and nutrition needs. in particular restoring food stamp benefits to vulnerable groups of legal immigrants. including the elderly. the handicapped and families with children. We did not have an opportunity to offer a motion to instruct conferees on this important concern. So if we pass this resolution. we will send this bill to conference with no firm assurance that a fair share of food stamp savings will be reinvested in feeding the hungry.. Mr. Speaker. I would urge my colleagues to pass this resolution. but send a very strong signal to conferees that many of us will work to defeat a conference agreement that does not invest at least half the Senate bills food stamp savings in feeding hungry people. specifically vulnerable groups of legal immigrants and refugees facing hunger and hardships as a result of losing food stamps.
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refugees immigrants