[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING THE RIGHT OF LEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO BENEFITS UNDER THE FARM 
                                  BILL

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning to applaud 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Baca) for his motion to instruct 
today that I ask my colleagues to support enthusiastically. It is 
important to explain the purpose and the force and the importance of 
the motion to instruct, and that is to reinforce the language that was 
offered in the other body regarding legal immigrants and the rights of 
legal immigrants to receive benefits under the farm bill, in this 
instance, food stamps. Legal immigrants are represented by us all--we 
owe them good and fair representation.
  It is important to note that nothing is being taken from those who 
claim to believe that only benefits should ensure to citizens. Legal 
immigrants work, pay taxes, are our neighbors, and, most of all, they 
offer their lives for our freedom in the United States military.

                              {time}  1015

  This is a commonsense amendment, and it states that the United States 
House of Representatives truly believes in the equality of all. We 
cannot owe shame to this body by declaring that legal immigrants who 
work here and are part of this Nation and sacrifice their lives deserve 
not to have the benefits. We realize that the U.S. military, many of 
them, are on food stamps. Would we deny to them the rights of those of 
us who live and breathe the free air of this Nation? Vote for the Baca 
amendment.

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