[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 17, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1343]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRESS MUST RESTORE FOOD STAMP BENEFITS TO LEGAL IMMIGRANTS

  (Mr. REYES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, later today the House will debate a motion to 
instruct conferees on the Farm Security Act that seeks to prevent the 
restoration of benefits to legal residents.
  Well, I am appalled that this motion is offered, given the bipartisan 
support to restore food stamp benefits to legal permanent residents. I 
am, however, not surprised that there are some still in this House who 
continue their anti-immigrant, anti-Latino and anti-family campaign.
  Let me repeat, Mr. Speaker. We are talking about benefits to legal 
residents; legal residents who come to this country from all parts of 
the world.
  Earlier this year we welcomed the administration's proposal to extend 
eligibility to legal residents who have lived in the United States for 
5 years. We supported this proposal because it was simple and 
straightforward. The Senate has included the administration's proposal 
in its version of the farm bill, but efforts continue in conference 
discussions to undermine a fair and simple restoration of benefits for 
legal residents.
  These efforts clearly undermine President Bush's own proposal for 
restoration of food stamps.
  I hope that this Congress, Mr. Speaker, does the right thing and 
restores food stamp benefits to legal residents, and I also today ask 
President Bush to do more to convince his party that legal permanent 
residents deserve these benefits. It is long overdue, it is time, and 
it is the right thing to do.

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