[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1796]]
NONCITIZEN BENEFIT CLARIFICATION AND OTHER TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS ACT OF 
                                  1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 23, 1998

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. 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 only September 30, 1998 in order 
to give the Social Security Administration adequate time to determine 
their status. This legislation would clarify that these individuals--
many of whom are elderly or disabled and who claim citizenship but lack 
documentation or are not capable of documenting their immigration 
status--will 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; however, U.S. citizens 
residing in Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto 
Rico are not eligible for assistance under the SSI program. Given the 
fact that the cost of living is much higher in the territories than 
almost any mainland location, and given the fact that we have a 
permanent cap on Medicaid, I sincerely believe that there is a definite 
need to extend the SSI program to the territories.
  Citizenship in this country and the privileges associated with it 
should not be measured by geographic choice in residency or the size of 
one's pocketbook. Whether one chooses to live in Hagatna, St. Croix or 
Peoria, a federally funded program should be accessible to everyone.
  I urge my colleagues pass H.R. 4558 and to extend the SSI program to 
the American citizens in the territories.

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