Due to family reasons. I was unavoidably detained and therefore unable to cast my vote against this Rule. I supported the base text of S. 1150 which represents a delicate bipartisan compromise by restoring food stamps funding to legal immigrants. and promoting agricultural research. crop insurance. and rural development. The rule would strike out the food stamp provisions. effectively killing crop insurance and agricultural research as well as food stamps. Legal immigrants cut off of food stamps are among the poorest and most vulnerable. Over 900.000 legal immigrants. including 150.000 children. have lost food stamp benefits. Another 600.000 citizen children live in households where immigrant adults have lost benefits. thereby reducing the amount of food available to the entire household. The restorations with regard to food stamps in S. 1150 target the most vulnerable immigrants: elderly and disabled persons. children. refugees who often come to this country with nothing but the clothes on their backs. and Hmong veterans. who fought courageously alongside U.S. military forces in Vietnam. Private charities are overwhelmed trying to meet increased need for food across the country. The U.S. Conference of Mayors recent survey found that 75 percent of cities report increased requests from legal immigrants for food assistance. Food banks cite increases of 40 to 70 percent in requests for emergency food assistance. Catholic Charities.. the nations largest private human service organization. reports significant increases in requests for emergency food assistance. severe food shortages in their food banks and pantries. and an inability to meet all food need.
Keywords matched
refugees immigrant immigrants