[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 21, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S8538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COSPONSORSHIP OF S. 2623

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Madam President, I discuss a very important issue to my 
home State of Wisconsin, and that is the time limits placed on 
Supplemental Security Income, SSI, benefits for refugees and other 
humanitarian immigrants.-
  Due to a provision included in the 1996 welfare reform law, some 
refugees and other humanitarian immigrants legally residing in the 
United States, including many members of the Hmong ethnic group, are 
beginning to lose their eligibility for SSI. The provision states that 
refugees and other humanitarian immigrants are only eligible for SSI 
for 7 years. Some of these legal immigrants have already lost their 
benefits, and for others the 7-year deadline is quickly approaching.
  Many of the Hmong who currently reside in Wisconsin and throughout 
the U.S. provided invaluable assistance to the U.S. military during the 
Vietnam War. The Hmong made great sacrifices in fighting against 
communists in Laos and providing intelligence to the CIA, and could no 
longer stay in the region out of fear for their safety. In return for 
their sacrifices for our Nation, we relocated them to the United 
States, along with their families, to live under refugee or 
humanitarian immigrant status.
  The refugees and other humanitarian immigrants who depend on SSI are 
elderly or disabled and often lack any other financial resources. Many 
Hmong currently have applications for citizenship pending, and have 
been waiting for over 2 years for their applications to be processed by 
the Immigration and Naturalization Service and now the Department of 
Homeland Security. Others are suffering from serious mental or physical 
disabilities that prevent them from completing the requirements 
necessary to obtain citizenship. Losing their SSI eligibility will 
cause significant strain to those Hmong who rely on SSI as their only 
financial means.
  I am proud to cosponsor S. 2623, the SSI Extension for Elderly and 
Disabled Refugees Act, which was introduced by Senator Smith. This bill 
would extend the 7-year deadline by 2 years, giving those refugees who 
depend on SSI some additional time to navigate the naturalization 
process.
  It is my sincere hope that this bill will be taken up and passed 
quickly, since time is of the essence for this population. Many of the 
Hmong risked their lives to help the United States and I believe that 
the U.S. Government should do all it can to provide for them in their 
time of need.

                          ____________________