[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E612-E613]
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

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2002

  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, today, we are voting on H.R. 3839, ``Keeping 
Children and Families Safe Act.'' Preventing child abuse, providing 
family support to decrease the numbers of abandoned infants, and 
establishing transitional housing for domestic violence victims are all 
critical pieces of keeping people safe. Making sure they have adequate 
food is another.
  Congress has an opportunity to do just that through the Farm Bill. 
Last week, Rep. Baca  introduced a Motion to Instruct the Conferees to 
restore food stamp benefits to legal immigrants. It would allow 
children to be eligible for food stamps regardless of when they entered 
the U.S., and to reduce the work requirement for adults from 40 
quarters to 16 quarters. I support this Motion to Instruct and urge my 
colleagues to do so as well.
  Nationwide, 37 percent of all children of immigrants lived in 
families that had trouble affording food. In 1999, the incidence of 
food insecurity in immigrant households was almost three times that of 
White non-Hispanic households. Extensive research has shown that 
children who do not have adequate diets have poor health, slow 
development, and difficulty concentrating in school.
  This Motion to Instruct does not take an extreme stance. We're 
talking about legal immigrants. These are people who work hard, pay 
their taxes, and contribute a great deal to our Nation. The Motion to 
Instruct also requires

[[Page E613]]

people to work 16 quarters, or approximately four years, before they 
can become eligible for food stamps.
  Importantly, restoring benefits to legal immigrant children will also 
help reach citizen children. Over 85 percent of immigrant families are 
``mixed status'' and include at least one citizen child. Seventy-four 
percent of those families left the food stamp program from 1994 to 
1998.
  Once someone has come in legally, and has worked hard to support this 
economy, they should be entitled to a little support for their families 
and their children. They should be eligible for food stamps. While 
we're working at keeping children and families safe, let's not forget 
that adequate food is the first step.
  Support the Baca Motion to Instruct the Conferees.

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