Speech #1050136712

That 5year limit proved unrealistic because of long backlogs at the INS. In a number of INS offices. these backlogs exceeded two years. If the eligibility of these refugees ended after five years in the country. they could be left without recourse while their applications to naturalize were in the INS "pipeline." The extension of eligibility for SSI and Medicaid to allow them to receive benefits during their first seven years in this country was not controversial last year: it was included in all major Republican and Democratic proposals for legal immigrants. It should not be controversial this year. It should be noted that this provision does not assure that these refugees will receive benefits for two more yearsthey still have to be otherwise eligible for food stamps. Refugees and asylum seekers still would have to meet the same criteria that all other people have to meet to qualify for benefits. By conforming food stamp rules to those already adopted for Medicaid last summer. the Agricultural Research Conference Report would avoid imposing multiple inconsistent eligibility rules on state and local agencies that administer both programs. I urge my colleagues to support Senator LUGAR and Senator HARKIN in their efforts to get the agricultural research conference report passed as quickly as possible.