[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MOTION TO INSTRUCT CONFEREES ON H.R. 2646, FARM SECURITY ACT OF 2001

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                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2002

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of Mr. Baca's motion to instruct conferees to restore food stamp 
benefits to legal immigrants. I applaud Mr. Baca's efforts on this 
issue and am happy to support him in this worthy endeavor.
  In addition, I would also like to applaud President Bush's effort to 
restore food stamps for legal immigrants, which is of critical 
importance to so many families all across this country. Unfortunately, 
conferees from the President's own party voted to block the 
Administration's proposal to restore food stamps to legal immigrants on 
April 10th.
  Instead, they voted for a far more stringent proposal that would make 
it virtually impossible for immigrant families to qualify for food 
stamp benefits. This opposition is preventing more than 350,000 people 
from benefiting from this program that helps poor families feed their 
children.
  Mr. Baca's proposal contains the same provisions that were in the 
Administration's proposal, which passed the Senate by the overwhelming 
vote of 96 to 1. These provisions include allowing legal immigrants 
access to food stamps after 5 years, allowing individuals with 16 
quarters of work to be eligible for food stamps, and restoring food 
stamp benefits to children and other vulnerable populations regardless 
of date of entry.
  I urge my colleagues to support this motion to instruct conferees and 
help ensure that all legal immigrants, especially children, are 
eligible for food stamps. Legal immigrants who work hard, live by the 
rules, pay taxes, and even serve in our armed forces deserve access to 
food stamps. Lets do the right thing and pass this motion to instruct 
conferees.

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