[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 71 (Thursday, June 4, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4066]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SUPPORT FOR RESTORATION OF FOOD STAMPS FOR LEGAL U.S. RESIDENTS

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, today the House will likely vote on 
legislation which was passed overwhelmingly by the Senate to restore 
food stamps to thousands of disabled and elderly U.S. legal residents, 
as well as families with children, and they have entered this country 
legally, they pay their taxes and they abide by the law.
  Since Congress unfairly ended food stamp benefits to U.S. legal 
residents, more than 900,000 taxpayers have lost their access to food 
stamps. Sixty-five percent of those affected are families with 
children. In my home State of Florida nearly 10 percent of the 
recipients lost eligibility, and most were families with kids. The 
funds for food stamps in this bill will only be directed to legal U.S. 
residents who were here before the benefits were terminated.
  It is fitting that this great Nation, which gave these permanent 
residents a new opportunity, will now lend them a helping hand in their 
times of need after years of contributing to our country. I urge my 
colleagues to restore the benefits of food stamps to U.S. legal 
residents.

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