Speech #1050190694

Mr. Speaker. the bill before us today. H.R. 4558. is important in that it clarifies the eligibility of immigrants in receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. As you know. the 1997 Balanced Budget Act permanently grandfathered most but not all noncitizens who were receiving SSI benefits when the welfare reform law was signed into law on August 22. 1996. About 22.000 "nonqualified" noncitizens were grandfathered through on September 30. 1998 in order to give the Social Security Administration adequate time to determine their status. This legislation would clarify that these individualsmany of whom are elderly or disabled and who claim citizenship but lack documentation or are not capable of documenting their immigration statuswill continue to receive SSI benefits from the federal government. While there should be strong and vigorous debate on the ensuring that those most in need of public assistance not fall through the safety net. perhaps it is not clearly known that not all U.S. citizens are eligible for participation in the SSI program. SSI is available to citizens who live in one of the 50 States. how-