We rightly concluded that nothing erodes the human spirit more readily than dependence on handouts. and we instituted reforms based upon the principles of personal responsibility and hard work. But in some cases. a helping hand is truly necessary. and sometimes so much help is needed that only the Federal government is capable of providing it. This is clearly the case with respect to certain classes of legal immigrants. The welfare law provisions restricting legal immigrant access to food stamps went too far. Legal immigrants pay taxes and serve in our armed forces. They are not granted all the privileges of U.S. citizenship. but are expected to fulfill most of the responsibilities of citizenship. The ban on food stamps for elderly. disabled and other needy legal immigrants from food stamps was harsh and unfair. While myself and others argued that point during debate on the welfare bill in 1996. the majority of us have learned it since then. In any case. we should all feel confident that we are doing the right thing today by voting for this bill. Mr. President. my support for the food stamps restoration is particularly heartfelt due to my concern for the Hmong and other legal immigrants from Laos and their families. As my colleagues may know. the Hmong fought along side our American men and women in the Vietnam War. They risked their lives on behalf of all that we hold dear in this countryfreedom from oppression. democracy and the pursuit of happinessand fled to the United States following the War out of fear of persecution.
Keywords matched
immigrant immigrants