Speech #1100199564

I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker. in July of 2007. H.R. 2608. bipartisan legislation. the SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act. passed the House by unanimous voice vote. In early August. just over a month ago. the Senate finally passed an amended version of the bill by unanimous consent. and we are here today acting to accept the amended bill. This bipartisan legislation increases the amount of time certain low income. disabled and aged immigrants can receive Supplemental Security Income benefits. Currently these individuals are eligible for these benefits during their first 7 years in the United States. This legislation would extend that period to 9 years. or even longer if the individual has a pending application for citizenship. These individuals arrived and remain in the United States legally and also arrived for humanitarian reasons. They have fled persecution and suffering in their own countries. and include refugees. asylees. CubanHaitian entrants. Hmong tribesmen who fought on the side of the United States. victims of communist dictatorships and victims of trafficking from around the world. This legislation provides them additional eligibility to ensure that a lengthy citizenship application process does not inadvertently cause an elderly or disabled refugee to lose access to SSI benefits. Because this expanded eligibility for low income. disabled and aged immigrants will be extended only through fiscal year 2011. a future Congress will need to review whether these provisions are working as intended and need to be extended. That future Congress can and should question whether refugees and others. who are playing by the rules and who apply for citizenship. have adequate and sufficient time to go through that process without losing access to SSI benefits. To cover the cost of these additional benefits. the bill would reduce Federal income tax refunds to better recover unemployment benefit overpayments resulting from fraud. Tax refund offsets already occur for delinquent child support payments and certain other debts owed to the Federal Government.