Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 110 (Wednesday, July 11, 2007)

[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 11, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H7559-H7566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SSI EXTENSION FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED REFUGEES ACT

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2608) to amend section 402 of the Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to provide, in fiscal
years 2008 through 2010, extensions of supplemental security income for
refugees, asylees, and certain other humanitarian immigrants, and to
amend the Internal Revenue Code to collect unemployment compensation
debts resulting from fraud.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 2608

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``SSI Extension for Elderly
and Disabled Refugees Act''.

SEC. 2. SSI EXTENSIONS FOR HUMANITARIAN IMMIGRANTS.

Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2))
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(M) SSI extensions through fiscal year 2010.--
``(i) Two-year extension.--

``(I) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), with
respect to eligibility for benefits for the specified Federal
program described in paragraph (3)(A), the 7-year period
described in subparagraph (A) shall be deemed to be a 9-year
period during fiscal years 2008 through 2010.
``(II) Aliens whose benefits ceased in prior fiscal
years.--

``(aa) In general.--Beginning on the date of the enactment
of the SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act,
any qualified alien rendered ineligible for the specified
Federal program described in paragraph (3)(A) during fiscal
years prior to fiscal year 2008 solely by reason of the
termination of the 7-year period described in subparagraph
(A) shall be eligible for such program for an additional 2-
year period in accordance with this clause, if such alien
meets all other eligibility factors under title XVI of the
Social Security Act.
``(bb) Payment of benefits.--Benefits paid under item (aa)
shall be paid prospectively over the duration of the
qualified alien's renewed eligibility.
``(ii) Pending naturalization application.--With respect to
eligibility for benefits for the specified program described
in paragraph (3) (A), subsection (a)(1) shall not

[[Page H7560]]

apply during fiscal years 2008 through 2010 to an alien
described in one of clauses (i) through (v) of subparagraph
(A), if the alien has submitted an application for
naturalization that is pending before the Secretary of
Homeland Security, and such submission is verified by the
Commissioner of Social Security either by receiving a receipt
number from the alien for such submitted application or by
receiving confirmation from the Secretary of Homeland
Security.''.

SEC. 3. COLLECTION OF UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION DEBTS
RESULTING FROM FRAUD.

(a) In General.--Section 6402 of the Internal Revenue Code
(relating to authority to make credits or refunds) is amended
by redesignating subsections (f) through (k) as subsections
(g) through (l), respectively, and by inserting after
subsection (e) the following new subsection:
``(f) Collection of Unemployment Compensation Debts
Resulting From Fraud.--
``(1) In general.--Upon receiving notice from any State
that a named person owes a covered unemployment compensation
debt to such State, the Secretary shall, under such
conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary--
``(A) reduce the amount of any overpayment payable to such
person by the amount of such covered unemployment
compensation debt;
``(B) pay the amount by which such overpayment is reduced
under subparagraph (A) to such State and notify such State of
such person's name, taxpayer identification number, address,
and the amount collected; and
``(C) notify the person making such overpayment that the
overpayment has been reduced by an amount necessary to
satisfy a covered unemployment compensation debt.

If an offset is made pursuant to a joint return, the notice
under subparagraph (B) shall include the names, taxpayer
identification numbers, and addresses of each person filing
such return and the notice under subparagraph (C) shall
include information related to the rights of a spouse of a
person subject to such an offset.
``(2) Priorities for offset.--Any overpayment by a person
shall be reduced pursuant to this subsection--
``(A) after such overpayment is reduced pursuant to--
``(i) subsection (a) with respect to any liability for any
internal revenue tax on the part of the person who made the
overpayment;
``(ii) subsection (c) with respect to past-due support; and
``(iii) subsection (d) with respect to any past-due,
legally enforceable debt owed to a Federal agency; and
``(B) before such overpayment is credited to the future
liability for any Federal internal revenue tax of such person
pursuant to subsection (b).

If the Secretary receives notice from a State or States of
more than one debt subject to paragraph (1) or subsection (e)
that is owed by a person to such State or States, any
overpayment by such person shall be applied against such
debts in the order in which such debts accrued.
``(3) Notice; consideration of evidence.--No State may take
action under this subsection until such State--
``(A) notifies the person owing the covered unemployment
compensation debt that the State proposes to take action
pursuant to this section;
``(B) provides such person at least 60 days to present
evidence that all or part of such liability is not legally
enforceable or due to fraud;
``(C) considers any evidence presented by such person and
determines that an amount of such debt is legally enforceable
and due to fraud; and
``(D) satisfies such other conditions as the Secretary may
prescribe to ensure that the determination made under
subparagraph (C) is valid and that the State has made
reasonable efforts to obtain payment of such covered
unemployment compensation debt.
``(4) Covered unemployment compensation debt.--For purposes
of this subsection, the term `covered unemployment
compensation debt' means--
``(A) a past-due debt for erroneous payment of unemployment
compensation due to fraud which has become final under the
law of a State certified by the Secretary of Labor pursuant
to section 3304 and which remains uncollected;
``(B) contributions due to the unemployment fund of a State
for which the State has determined the person to be liable
due to fraud; and
``(C) any penalties and interest assessed on such debt.
``(5) Regulations.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary may issue regulations
prescribing the time and manner in which States must submit
notices of covered unemployment compensation debt and the
necessary information that must be contained in or accompany
such notices. The regulations may specify the minimum amount
of debt to which the reduction procedure established by
paragraph (1) may be applied.
``(B) Fee payable to secretary.--The regulations may
require States to pay a fee to the Secretary, which may be
deducted from amounts collected, to reimburse the Secretary
for the cost of applying such procedure. Any fee paid to the
Secretary pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be used to
reimburse appropriations which bore all or part of the cost
of applying such procedure.
``(C) Submission of notices through secretary of labor.--
The regulations may include a requirement that States submit
notices of covered unemployment compensation debt to the
Secretary via the Secretary of Labor in accordance with
procedures established by the Secretary of Labor. Such
procedures may require States to pay a fee to the Secretary
of Labor to reimburse the Secretary of Labor for the costs of
applying this subsection. Any such fee shall be established
in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury. Any fee
paid to the Secretary of Labor may be deducted from amounts
collected and shall be used to reimburse the appropriation
account which bore all or part of the cost of applying this
subsection.
``(6) Erroneous payment to state.--Any State receiving
notice from the Secretary that an erroneous payment has been
made to such State under paragraph (1) shall pay promptly to
the Secretary, in accordance with such regulations as the
Secretary may prescribe, an amount equal to the amount of
such erroneous payment (without regard to whether any other
amounts payable to such State under such paragraph have been
paid to such State).''.
(b) Disclosure of Certain Information to States Requesting
Refund Offsets for Legally Enforceable State Unemployment
Compensation Debt Resulting From Fraud.--
(1) General rule.--Paragraph (3) of section 6103(a) of such
Code is amended by inserting ``(10),'' after ``(6),''.
(2) Disclosure to department of labor and its agent.--
Paragraph (10) of section 6103(l) of such Code is amended--
(A) by striking ``(c), (d), or (e)'' each place it appears
in the heading and text and inserting ``(c), (d), (e), or
(f)'',
(B) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``, to officers and
employees of the Department of Labor and its agent for
purposes of facilitating the exchange of data in connection
with a request made under subsection (f)(5) of section
6402,'' after ``section 6402'', and
(C) in subparagraph (B) by inserting ``, and any agents of
the Department of Labor,'' after ``agency'' the first place
it appears.
(3) Safeguards.--Paragraph (4) of section 6103(p) of such
Code is amended--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``(l)(16),'' and inserting ``(l)(10), (16),'';
(B) in subparagraph (F)(i), by striking ``(l)(16),'' and
inserting ``(l)(10), (16),''; and
(C) in the matter following subparagraph (F)(iii)--
(i) in each of the first two places it appears, by striking
``(l)(16),'' and inserting ``(l)(10), (16),'';
(ii) by inserting ``(10),'' after ``paragraph (6)(A),'';
and
(iii) in each of the last two places it appears, by
striking ``(l)(16)'' and inserting ``(l)(10) or (16)''.
(c) Expenditures From State Fund.--Section 3304(a)(4) of
such Code is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``and'' after the
semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(G) with respect to amounts of covered unemployment
compensation debt (as defined in section 6402(f)(4))
collected under section 6402(f)--
``(i) amounts may be deducted to pay any fees authorized
under such section; and
``(ii) the penalties and interest described in section
6402(f)(4)(B) may be transferred to the appropriate State
fund into which the State would have deposited such amounts
had the person owing the debt paid such amounts directly to
the State;''.
(d) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Subsection (a) of section 6402 of such Code is amended
by striking ``(c), (d), and (e),'' and inserting ``(c), (d),
(e), and (f)''.
(2) Paragraph (2) of section 6402(d) of such Code is
amended by striking ``and before such overpayment is reduced
pursuant to subsection (e)'' and inserting ``and before such
overpayment is reduced pursuant to subsections (e) and (f)''.
(3) Paragraph (3) of section 6402(e) of such Code is
amended in the last sentence by inserting ``or subsection
(f)'' after ``paragraph (1)''.
(4) Subsection (g) of section 6402 of such Code, as
redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking ``(c),
(d), or (e)'' and inserting ``(c), (d), (e), or (f)''.
(5) Subsection (i) of section 6402 of such Code, as
redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking
``subsection (c) or (e)'' and inserting ``subsection (c),
(e), or (f)''.
(e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section
shall apply to refunds payable under section 6402 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 on or after the date of
enactment of this Act.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. McDermott) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.

General Leave

Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include therein extraneous materials on this bill under consideration.

[[Page H7561]]

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, refugees come to America fleeing
persecution, injustice, torture and even death. During a hearing before
the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, we heard from
one of those refugees. His name was K'Keng, and he fought alongside
American forces during the Vietnam war. In fact, he was recruited and
trained by our Special Forces. After the U.S. pulled out of Vietnam, he
was imprisoned for 6 years as a political prisoner, after which he
eventually made it to the United States as a refugee.
He tried working, but the wounds he suffered during the war made that
difficult. Based on his disability and the fact that he had almost no
other source of income, he began receiving Supplemental Security
Income, or SSI, benefits. But those benefits were terminated when he
reached a 7-year time limit on SSI on refugees. He is now 75, partially
blind, and lives on only a few hundred dollars worth of food stamps
every month, as well as assistance from his young son.
Nearly 7,000 elderly and disabled refugees have lost their SSI
benefits. The Social Security Administration projects another 16,000
will do so over the next few years unless the Congress acts.
As the beacon of freedom around the world, America can do better than
this. While it is true that a refugee may continue to receive SSI if he
or she becomes a citizen, a series of obstacles make that transition to
citizenship difficult within the 7-year limit of SSI benefits.
First, a refugee must live in the United States for at least 5 years
before they are eligible to submit an application for citizenship.

{time} 1615

A refugee must then confront a lengthy application process which can
take up to 3 to 4 years. Backlogs in processing citizenship
applications have been caused by a variety of issues, including
protracted background checks put in place after September 11 terrorist
attacks. There are other barriers to citizenship, such as the
continuing impact of the recent annual cap on the number of asylees who
may become legal permanent residents, a status which asylees must
maintain for 4 years before they may submit an application for
citizenship.
Also, some disabled and elderly refugees encounter difficulties
navigating the application process, which includes both an English
language and a U.S. civics test.
I'm pleased to say there is bipartisan support for addressing this
issue. The last several budget proposals from the Bush administration
have called for an extension in SSI benefits for refugees, and there is
a bipartisan bill pending in the U.S. Senate.
I would like especially to thank Mr. Weller, the ranking member on
the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, for working
with me to forge the bipartisan bill we are now considering.
This bill, H.R. 2608, would generally extend SSI benefits for an
additional 2 years for disabled and elderly refugees, asylees and other
qualified humanitarian immigrants, including those whose benefits have
expired in the recent past. Benefits could be extended for an
additional period for those awaiting a decision on pending application
for citizenship. These policies would be in effect till 2010.
The legislation completely offsets the cost of the SSI extension for
refugees within a provision that will reduce Federal tax refunds to
recover unemployment insurance debts due to fraud. The Federal tax
refund offset authority already exists to collect unpaid child support,
unpaid State taxes and debts owed to the Federal agencies.
The bill simply says that if a State concludes that a worker has
fraudulently received unemployment benefits or a business owner has
failed to pay UI taxes based on fraud, the State can seek to receive a
portion of any Federal tax refund that the individual may be owed.
Before pursuing a tax offset, the State would be required to notify the
individual and provide them with at least 60 days to contest the amount
being recovered.
By catching and reducing fraud in the unemployment insurance system,
this provision not only offsets the cost of the SSI extension for
refugees, but it also will reduce unemployment taxes on employers. The
Joint Committee on Taxation estimates the legislation will cut payroll
taxes by $326 million over the next 10 years.
Mr. Speaker, refugees come to our country fleeing persecution. They
reside in our country legally, and those eligible for SSI are disabled,
elderly or both. This legislation extends a modest benefit to help them
provide for their most basic essentials. The bill will not add one dime
to the Federal deficit, and it will even provide a tax cut. Such a
combination should ensure broad support for this vital effort to help
those most in need.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I
may consume.
This bipartisan legislation that we are considering today, the SSI
Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act, increases the amount
of time that certain low-income disabled and aged immigrants can
continue to receive Supplemental Security Income, SSI benefits, from 7
to 9 years. These are individuals legally allowed in the United States
for humanitarian reasons after fleeing persecution and suffering in
their own countries. The approximately 28,000 individuals assisted by
this legislation include refugees, asylees and Cuban/Haitian entrants
from around the world.
To gain access to permanent eligibility for SSI and all other
benefits and freedoms afforded to Americans, legal refugees and asylees
are eligible to become U.S. citizens through the naturalization process
now administered by the Department of Homeland Security. However, as
many Members have heard from constituents, this process does not always
move forward in a timely manner for a number of reasons.
For instance, a letter I recently received from the Sargent Shriver
National Center on Poverty Law in Illinois outlines a case in which an
elderly Jewish refugee couple from the former Soviet Union working to
become citizens encountered problems of lost paperwork and the need to
have fingerprints retaken time and time again. A recent Washington Post
story noted that as of March of 2007, this spring, nearly 1.3 million
individuals were in the Department of Homeland Security citizenship
application backlog, and 330,000 cases were in the FBI background check
backlog.
Recognizing the likelihood of ongoing issues in the naturalization
process, this legislation provides up to one extra year of eligibility,
for a total of up to 10 years, for those refugees and asylees needing
more time to complete the naturalization process. This is an important
provision as it emphasizes the relative temporary nature of SSI
eligibility for newly arrived legal refugees and asylees, while
encouraging them to pursue citizenship so that they may fully
participate in our Nation's democracy.
As with the other features of this legislation that relate to
eligibility for SSI benefits, this provision is effective from fiscal
year 2008 through 2010. So a future Congress must reexamine whether
these provisions are working as intended, including providing refugees
and related individuals who are playing by the rules and applying for
citizenship, sufficient time to go through that process without losing
access to these important benefits.
These additional SSI benefits are paid for through a provision that
will reduce Federal income tax refunds to better recover unemployment
benefit overpayments that resulted from fraud. Tax refund offsets
already occur for delinquent child support payments and certain other
debts owed to the Federal Government, and this simply allows the
current process to work in recovering unemployment benefit
overpayments.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates this permanent change will
more than pay for the additional SSI benefits provided in this bill.
This is sound policy and builds on proposals included in recent Bush
administration budget proposals.
The Ways and Means Committee, and in particular the Income Security
and Family Support Subcommittee, on which I serve as ranking member,
has

[[Page H7562]]

long been active in developing legislation to combat fraud and abuse
involving unemployment and other benefits. I'm pleased to see we are
continuing that effort with this legislation.
For example, in 2004, under the leadership of former chairman Wally
Herger, we passed provisions to stop the illegal manipulation of State
unemployment taxes. We also allowed State unemployment plans to use
information in the National Directory of New Hires to help prevent
unemployment benefit overpayments. Today's legislation builds on those
efforts, and I am proud to support it.
I would also note that this legislation is supported by a long list
of faith-based and other community groups, including many who assist
refugees in their efforts to become citizens. That list includes the
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, the Sargent Shriver National Center on
Poverty Law, Lutheran Social Services of America, and Catholic
Charities USA, among many, many other groups.
I would also note I received a letter of support from the Social
Security Administration endorsing this bipartisan bill, and I will
include the letters of support in the Record.
Finally, I would also like to recognize the efforts of my friend and
colleague, Representative Phil English of Pennsylvania who, among many
others, has worked diligently to see that these sorts of changes occur,
including by introducing bills to this same goal and effect.
I encourage all Members to join me in supporting this bipartisan
legislation.

June 28, 2007.
Dear Representative, Representing a diverse cross-section
of organizations from across the country, we write to you
today to ask that you support H.R. 2608--the ``SSI Extension
for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act.'' This bipartisan bill
is a critical lifeline to thousands of elderly and disabled
refugees who are about to lose, or have already lost, their
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits due to the
arbitrary seven-year time limit to which their eligibility is
limited.
This bill, introduced by Representatives Jim McDermott (D-
7th WA) and Jerry Weller (R-11th IL), Chair and Ranking
Member, respectively, of the Ways & Means Subcommittee on
Income Security and Family Support, will provide a two-year
extension of SSI eligibility for elderly and disabled
refugees, as well as a provision to cover those who lost
benefits prior to enactment of the legislation. The bill will
also ensure that refugees who are making efforts to become
citizens, but are caught up in the processing backlogs
through no fault of their own, are given additional time to
naturalize. H.R. 2608 will provide vital relief to thousands
of refugees who have already fallen into extreme destitution.
The number of people who are losing their life-sustaining
SSI benefits, in large part due to delays in the immigration
system beyond their control, is climbing. The Social Security
Administration currently projects that 50,000 elderly and
disabled refugees will face extreme hardship and destitution
by 2012 due to the suspension of their SSI benefits. These
individuals fled persecution or torture in countries such as
Iran, Russia, Iraq, Vietnam and Somalia, and now are too
elderly or disabled to support themselves.
As more and more people begin to reach the end of their
seven-year eligibility period, the human impact of this
restrictive time limit has become increasingly dire and all
the more intolerable. Some will lose health insurance as
well, because SSI and Medicaid eligibility are typically
linked. Among those who have already lost SSI benefits is a
Jewish elderly couple from the former Soviet Union; the
husband is deaf and the wife suffers from heart disease.
However, this restriction does not affect only the elderly,
as illustrated by the case of a 16-year-old Iranian boy with
mental retardation, autism, seizures, and severe macrocephaly
who lost his SSI benefits and Medicaid health insurance due
to the seven-year time limit. These are only but two of the
thousands of heartbreaking stories that we will continue to
be confronted with unless Congress acts now to lengthen the
insufficient eligibility period for this extremely vulnerable
population.
The crisis is already upon us. Each and every month,
elderly and disabled refugees are losing their lifeline of
support. With the exception of West Virginia, no state is
left untouched by this arbitrary time limit. Some 4,500
people will lose their SSI benefits in fiscal year 2007
alone. This bill enjoys bipartisan support, builds on similar
proposals in recent Bush Administration budgets, and contains
a savings provision that will cover the modest cost of the
extension. Given the urgency of the situation and the life-
threatening consequences that these individuals face, we
strongly urge you to support the passage of H.R. 2608 this
year. We are hopeful that Congress will act quickly and
decisively to prevent the unnecessary hardship that this
already-victimized population stands to suffer. Thank you for
your consideration.
Respectfully,

National

American Academy of HIV; American Association of Homes and
Services for the Aging; American Association of Jews from the
Former USSR, Inc; American Association of People with
Disabilities; American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees; American Friends Service Committee;
American Jewish Committee; American Network of Community
Options and Resources; American Occupational Therapy
Association; Americans for Democratic Action, Inc; Asian
American Justice Center; Asian Americans for Equality;
Association of Jewish Family & Children's Agencies (AJFCA);
Boat People SOS; Break the Chain Campaign; Campaign for
Working Families; Catholic Charities USA; Center for Civil
Justice; and Disability Navigators Inc.
EESA-Eastern European Service Agency; Gay Men's Health
Crisis; Hispanic Coalition; HIV Medicine Association;
HIVictorious, Inc.; Hmong National Development, Inc.;
Immigrant and Refugee Rights Program, Washington Lawyers'
Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs; Institute for
Peace and Justice; Institute for Social and Economic
Development (ISED); International AIDS Empowerment;
International District Housing Alliance; International Rescue
Committee; International Service Center; Jewish Council for
Public Affairs; Jubilee Campaign USA Inc; Justice, Peace &
Integrity of Creation Office of the Wheaton Franciscans;
Living Room, Inc; Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service
(LIRS); Lutheran Services in America; 9to5, National
Association of Working Women.
National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good
Shepherd; National Asian Pacific Center on Aging; National
Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development;
National Council of Jewish Women; National Council on Aging;
National Immigration Forum; National Immigration Law Center;
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
(NAKASEC); National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty;
National Priorities Project; National Senior Citizens Law
Center; National Women's Law Center; NETWORK: A National
Catholic Social Justice Lobby; New Sudan Generation;
Northwest Health Law Advocates; Northwest Immigrant Rights
Project; Progressive Jewish Alliance; Religious Action Center
of Reform Judaism; and RESULTS.
Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law; Sisters of
Mercy of the Americas; Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
(SEARAC); The AIDS Institute; The Arc of the United States;
The Coalition on Human Needs; The Leadership Conference of
Women Religious; The National Asian Pacific American Women's
Forum; The Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children;
The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring; U.S. Committee for
Refugees and Immigrants; Unitarian Universalist Association
of Congregations; United Cerebral Palsy; United Jewish
Communities; United Methodist Church, General Board of Church
and Society; USAction; Wider Opportunities for Women; Women
of Reform Judaism; Women of Reform Judaism; World Relief; and
YWCA USA.

Local/State/Regional

Alabama: Collat Jewish Family Services--Birmingham,
Alabama.
Alaska: Alaska Center for Public Policy; Refugee Assistance
& Immigration Services (RAIS)--Alaska
Arizona: Area Agency on Aging, Region One--Phoenix, AZ;
Arizona Advocacy Network; Jewish Family & Children's
Service--Tucson, Arizona; Pima Council on Aging--Tucson, AZ;
Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition; and United Way of
Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Arkansas: Holy Angels Convent--Arkansas; St. Augustine
Catholic Church--North Little Rock, AR; and St. Augustine
Center for Children, Inc.--North Little Rock, AR.
California: 9to5 Bay Area; 9to5 Los Angeles; ACLU of
Southern California; Asian Law Alliance--San Jose, CA; Asian
Law Caucus--Northern California; Asian Pacific American Legal
Center of Southern California; Bay Area Immigrant Rights
Coalition (BAIRC)--Oakland, CA; Bet Tzedek Legal Services--
Los Angeles County; California Church IMPACT; California
Immigrant Policy Center; Catholic Charities of Los Angeles,
Inc; Center for Gender and Refugee Studies--San Francisco,
CA; City of Los Angeles Human Relations Commission--Los
Angeles, CA; DisAbled Student Union at Pacific School of
Religion--Berkeley, CA; Ethiopian Community Services, Inc.--
California; Fresno Stonewall Democrats--Fresno, CA; Gray
Panthers California; HomeBase--San Francisco, CA;
International Rescue Committee--San Diego Regional
Resettlement Office; and Jewish Community Federation of San
Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties.
Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the
Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties; Jewish Family and
Children's Services of the East Bay--Berkley, California;
Jewish Family Service of San Diego--California; Korean
Resouce Center, Los Angeles, CA; L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center--
CA; Mental Health Advocacy Services, Inc.--Los Angeles; Palo
Alto Association of Veterans of World War II, California;
Progressive Jewish Alliance--California; Protection and
Advocacy, Inc.--Sacramento, CA; Sacramento Mutual Housing
Association, CA; San Diego Hunger Coalition--CA; San
Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition--CA; Service Employees
International Union Local 1021--Northern California; SIREN,
Services, Immigrant Rights and Education

[[Page H7563]]

Network--San Jose, CA; St. Mary's Center--Oakland, CA.
St. Paul's Episcopal Church--San Rafael, CA; The
International Institute of the Bay Area--CA; The Workmen's
Circle/Arbeter Ring--Southern California District; and
Western Center on Law and Poverty--Los Angeles & Sacramento,
CA.
Colorado: 9to5 Colorado; Coloradans For Immigrant Rights, a
project of the American Friends Service Committee; Colorado
Progressive Coalition; RESULTS of Aurora, Colorado; Rocky
Mountain Survivors Center--Denver, CO.
Connecticut: Catholic Charities, Diocese of Norwich, Inc--
CT; Collaborative Center for Justice, Inc.--Hartford, CT;
Connecticut Citizen Action Group; Connecticut Legal Services;
International Institute of CT, Inc.--Bridgeport, CT; Jewish
Family Services--Danbury, CT; People of Faith CT--West
Hartford, CT; and Regional Network of Programs Inc./Prospect
House--Bridgeport, CT.
Florida: Catholic Charities Legal Services--Archdiocese of
Miami, Inc.; Catholic Charities of Central Florida; Center
for Independent Living of South Florida, Inc--Miami--Dade
County, Florida; Florida Alliance Pro--Legalization; Florida
Consumer Action Network; Florida Fiscal Policy Project--
Miami, Florida; Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center; Gulfcoast
Legal Services, Inc--FL; Hispanic American Council, Florida
Alliance Pro--Legalization; Jewish Family Service Inc. of
Broward County--Plantation, Florida; Jewish Federation of
South Palm Beach County--FL; Legal Aid Society of the Orange
County Bar Association, Orlando, Florida; Refugee Immigration
Project, Jacksonville (FL) Area Legal Aid; St. Johns County
Legal Aid--St. Augustine, FL; The Legal Aid Society of Palm
Beach County, Inc; and Youth Co--Op, Inc--Florida.
Georgia: Atlanta 9to5; Georgia Rural Urban Summit--Decatur,
GA; Good Shepherd Services of Atlanta; Gwinnett Ministries
Network--Gwinnett County, Georgia; Refugee Family Services--
Stone Mountain, Georgia; and Women Watch Afrika, Inc,
Decatur, GA.
Hawaii: Na Loio--Immigrant Rights and Public Interest Legal
Center--Honolulu, Hawaii.
Idaho: Agency for New Americans--Boise, Idaho; Idaho Office
for Refugees; and United Vision for Idaho.
Illinois: Citizen Action/Illinois; Commission on Religion &
Race--Naperville IL; Grace United Methodist Church--
Naperville IL; Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human
Rights (Midwest region); Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society
Chicago; Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights;
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago; Korean American
Resource & Cultural Center, Chicago, IL; Project IRENE--
Illinois; and Protestants for the Common Good, Chicago, IL.
Indiana: CICOA Aging & In--Home Solutions, Indianapolis,
IN.
Iowa: Iowa Citizen Action Network.
Kentucky: College Democrats of America--Morehead State
University Chapter; Jewish Family & Vocational Service
(Louisville, Kentucky); and The Community Relations Council
of the Jewish Community Federation of Louisville.
Louisiana: LA Harm Reduction Coalition--Louisiana.
Maine: Catholic Charities Maine Refugee & Immigration
Services--Portland, ME; Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project,
Portland, Maine; Legal Services for the Elderly--Scarborough,
Maine; Maine Equal Justice Partners; Maine People's Alliance;
Oganizationg to Win Economic Rights--Portland, Maine; The
Jewish Federation of Greater Portland; Waterville Area
Bridges for Peace and Justice--Waterville and surrounding
communities.
Maryland: Jewish Family Services--Baltimore, Maryland;
Maryland Association of Jews from the Former USSR; Maryland
Vietnamese Mutual Association Progressive Maryland; Public
Justice Center--Baltimore MD; and The Senior Connection of
Montgomery County--Silver Spring, MD.
Massachusetts: Community Legal Services and Counseling
Center in Cambridge, MA; Disability Law Center, Inc.--Boston,
MA; First Congregational Church of Reading--Reading, MA;
International Rescue Committee Boston Office; JALSA--the
Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action--Boston; Jewish
Community Housing for the Elderly--Boston, MA; Jewish
Community Relations Council of Greater Boston; Medical-Legal
Partnership for Children Boston Medical Center; Strongest
Link AIDS Services--Essex County, MA; and The Massachusetts
Association of Jewish Federations.
Michigan: ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and
Social Services--Dearborn; Jewish Family Service--Detroit,
Michigan; Jewish Family Services--Ann Arbor, Michigan;
Michigan Citizen Action; Oakland County Welfare Rights
Organization--Pontiac, MI; and The IHM Justice, Peace and
Sustainability Office, Michigan.
Minnesota: Jewish Community Action, St. Paul, MN; Lutheran
Social Service of Minnesota; Mid-Minnesota Legal Assistance;
National Council of Jewish Women--Minnetonka, MN; and
Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota.
Missouri: Bi-Lingual International Assistant Services--St.
Louis, MO; Catholic Charities Archdiocese of St. Louis;
Jewish Vocational Service/Center for New Americans--Kansas
City, MO; Missouri Association for Social Welfare; Missouri
Budget Project--St. Louis, MO; Missouri Progressive Vote
Coalition; Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and
Associates--Missouri; and St. Louis Jewish Community
Relations Council--St. Louis, MO.
Montana: Montana People's Action.
New Hampshire: New Hampshire Citizens Alliance.
New Jersey: Community FoodBank of New Jersey; Congregation
Brothers of Israel--Long Branch, New Jersey; International
Institute of New Jersey; Jewish Federation of Monmouth
County--NJ; Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry in New
Jersey; Migration and Refugee Services of the Diocese of
Trenton--Trenton, NJ; New Jersey Citizen Action; Temple
Shalom--Aberdeen, NJ; The Human Concerns/Social Justice
Committee of St. Anselm's Church--Wayside, NJ; The Jewish
Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of
Southern New Jersey; The Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring, New
Jersey Region; and UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey.
New Mexico: Community Action New Mexico; Domestic Unity--
New Mexico; Empowering Our Communities in New Mexico--
Bernalillo, NM; New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty--
Albuquerque, NM; New Mexico PACE; Open Hands--Sante Fe, NM;
and State of New Mexico's Human Services Department.
New York: Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture--
New York, NY; Bukharian Jewish Center, New York; Cathedral
Emergency Services--Syracuse, NY; Center for Independence of
the Disabled--New York; Citizen Action of New York; Claire
Heureuse Community Center, Inc--New York; Coalition of
Behavioral Health Agencies, Inc--New York; Community
Healthcare Network--New York City; Community HIV AIDS
Mobilization Project--CHAMP, New York; Disabled in Action of
Greater Syracuse, New York; Empire Justice Center, New York;
Episcopal Migration Ministries--NYC; Federation of Protestant
Welfare Agencies--New York City; JBFCS, Manhattan North
Community Counseling Center; Jewish Board of Family and
Children's Services--New York, NY; Jewish Community Council
of the Rockaway Peninsula--Far Rockaway, NY; Jewish Family
Services of NENY (Albany, New York); Legal Services for the
Elderly, Disabled or Disadvantaged of Western New York, Inc.;
Metro New York Health Care For All Campaign; Metropolitan
Council on Jewish Poverty--NY; New York Association on
Independent Living, Inc.; New York City Department for the
Aging; New York Disaster Interfaith Services; New York
Immigration Coalition; Society of Jesus, New York Province--
Albany, NY; Syracuse Habitat for Humanity, Inc.--NY; The
Central Queens YM& YWHA, Forest Hills, New York; The
International Institute of Buffalo, NY; The Rockland
Immigration Coalition--NY; UJA-Federation of New York; U.S.
Committee for Refugees and Immigrants Albany Field Office--
NY; West Side Campaign Against Hunger--New York; YKASEC--
Empowering the Korean American Community, Flushing, NY.
North Carolina: Episcopal Migration Ministries--eastern
North Carolina; and North Carolina Refugee Health
Coordinator.
North Dakota: NDPeople.org--North Dakota.
Ohio: Catholic Charities Health and Human Services of the
Diocese of Cleveland; Greater Dayton Vietnamese Association--
Greater Dayton, Ohio area; Jewish Family Service Association
of Cleveland; Jewish Family Service of Toledo, Inc.--Toledo,
Ohio; Jewish Family Services--Columbus, Ohio; Jewish Family
Services--Youngstown, Ohio; Jewish Federation of Greater
Dayton Jewish Community Relations Council--Dayton, Ohio;
Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry--Cleveland, Ohio; Ohio Jewish
Communities; and Refugee & Immigration Services--Columbus,
OH.
Oklahoma: YWCA Multicultural Center--Tulsa, OK.
Oregon: Asian Pacific American Community Support and
Service Association (APACSA)--Portland, OR; Community Action
Directors of Oregon (CADO); Disability Navigators Inc--
Oregon; Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)--
Portland, Oregon; Interfaith Action for Justice--Bend,
Oregon; Klamath Lake Community Action Services--Klamath
Falls, OR; Oregon Action; Peaceful Place--Oregon; The
Advocacy Coalition for Seniors and People with Disabilities--
OR; and The Human Services Coalition of Oregon.
Pennsylvania: HIAS and Council Migration Service of
Philadelphia; JCCs of Greater Philadelphia (Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania); JEVS Human Services--Philadelphia; JEVS Social
Services (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); Jewish Family and
Children's Services (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); Jewish
Family Service of Greater Wilkes-Barre (Wilkes-Barre,
Pennsylvania); Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania); Maternity Care Coalition--
Philadelphia, PA; Mount St. Joseph--St. Elizabeth, PA;
National Council of Jewish Women--PA; New World Association--
Philadelphia, PA; Pennsylvania Refugee Resettlement Program;
St. Johns Lutheran Church--Lewistown, PA; and YWCA
Philadelphia.
Rhode Island: National Association of Social Workers--Rhode
Island Chapter; and Rhode Island Ocean State Action.
South Carolina: Columbia Jewish Federation/Jewish Family
Service--Columbia, SC; and Jewish Family Service (Columbia,
South Carolina).
South Dakota: Systematic Theology and Christian Heritage--
Sioux Falls, SD.

[[Page H7564]]

Tennessee: Jewish Family Service of Nashville and Middle
Tennessee; and Tennessee Citizen Action.
Texas: Catholic Charities Diocese of Ft. Worth, Inc.;
Jewish Family and Children's Service (San Antonio, Texas);
Jewish Family Service (Houston, Texas); REFUGIO DEL RIO
GRANDE, Inc.--San Benito, TX; South Texas Food Bank; and
Texas Conference United Methodist Church Board of Church &
Society.
Utah: Jewish Family Service of Salt Lake; Learning Loft--
Salt Lake Valley, Utah; Utah Community Action Partnership
Association; and Utah Housing Coalition.
Vermont: Central Vermont Community Action Council; Vermont
Refugee Resettlement Program; and VT Affordable Housing
Coalition.
Virginia: Bay Aging--Urbanna, VA; Center for Multicultural
Services--Falls Church, VA; Disabled Action Committee--
Virginia; Potomac Legal Aid Society--Virginia; Rappahannock
Area Agency on Aging, Inc.--Fredericksburg, VA; and Union
Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School for Christian
Education--Richmond, VA.
Washington: Asian Counseling & Referral Service--Seattle,
WA; Catholic Community Services of Western Washington; Jewish
Family Service of Seattle (Seattle, Washington); Jewish
Federation of Greater Seattle (Seattle, Washington); Solid
Ground--Seattle, WA; South Sound Outreach Services--Tacoma,
Washington; Washington Community Action Network; and
Washington Senior Citizens' Lobby--Olympia, WA.
Washington, DC: Whitman-Walker Clinic--Washington, DC.
West Virginia: West Virginia Citizen Action Group.
Wisconsin: 9to5 Poverty Network Initiative (Wisconsin);
Citizen Action of Wisconsin; Milwaukee Association of
Russian-speaking Jews; Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community
Relations; UMOS, Inc--Milwaukee, WI; and Wisconsin Jewish
Conference.
____

Sargent Shriver National

Center on Poverty Law,

Chicago, IL, June 19, 2007.
Re: HR 2608, The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled
Refugees Act.

Hon. Jerry Weller,
Cannon HOB,
Washington, DC.
Dear Rep. Weller: I write to thank you for the
compassionate leadership you have shown in being a chief
cosponsor of HR 2608. This legislation provides relief to
elderly and disabled residents of our nation who, having
already endured great suffering, hardship and persecution in
their native lands, are now, through no fault of their own,
faced with destitution.
I have been working on this issue for several years, ever
since the plight of these elderly and disabled refugees came
to light in stories like those of Iosif and Polina Katz,
Jewish refugees from the former Soviet Union in their late
60s who fled the Nazi invasion and lived through iron-fisted
Soviet rule. (``Older refugees on verge of losing Federal
benefits,'' Chicago Tribune, page A1, Dec. 27, 2003). The
Katzes needed to become U.S. citizens by July 1, 2004 or they
would he terminated from SSI. Iosif, whose green card had
been delayed for years after immigration officials lost his
application, had no chance of meeting this deadline. His wife
Polina, whose fingerprints had to be retaken three times, was
also representative of the types of government delays over
which these vulnerable residents of our nation have no
control.
Thanks again for your leadership, Rep. Weller, and please
let me know if we can be of any assistance in your efforts to
address this compelling situation.
Sincerely,
Dan Lesser,
Senior Attorney.
____

Social Security Administration,

Washington DC, July 10, 2007.
Hon. Jim McCrery,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. McCrery: I am writing to provide the Social
Security Administration's (SSA) views on H.R. 2608, the SSI
Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act.
SSA fully supports an extension of the time period in which
refugees, asylees, and certain other humanitarian categories
of noncitizens may remain eligible for Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) while seeking U.S. citizenship. The current time
limit is 7 years, and some aged, blind and disabled
individuals have been unable to obtain U.S. citizenship
within this time period. The Administration recognizes the
daunting challenges refugees have faced in fleeing tyranny,
the adjustments they must make in their resettlement, and
their need for additional help in their quest for U.S.
citizenship.
Section 2 of H.R. 2608 would amend the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996 to permit a 9-year period for SSI eligibility, provide
retroactive eligibility for refugees and asylees who
previously became ineligible after 7 years, and exempt the
general SSI prohibition for refugees and asylees with pending
naturalization applications. These changes would be in effect
from 2008-2010. This provision is similar to the
Administration's proposal for an extension to 8 years that
was in the President's budget in FY 2005, FY 2006, FY 2007
and FY 2008. One difference between H.R. 2608 and the
Administration's proposal is that the retroactive effect of
H.R. 2608 could require SSA to reinstate SSI payments for
individuals who have been off of the rolls for many years.
While this represents a new workload, we would like to work
with Congress to address the administrative burden inherent
with such an effort, with the overall goal of assisting aged,
blind, and disabled individuals in becoming U.S. citizens.
A similar letter has been sent to the Chairman of the House
Ways and Means Committee.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Becerra).
Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I want to join in this bipartisan effort to
try to move forward legislation which is not only important but
precious to many people in this country who are keen to be American
citizens.
H.R. 2608, the SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act,
is something that won't affect most Americans because most of us don't
have to worry about this. But if you are a Russian Jew who was escaping
persecution in the former Soviet Union, if you're one of the minority
populations in Somalia that escaped the persecution going on there, or
if you're a former Yugoslav who was trying to leave the devastation
that was occurring in the former Yugoslavian countries that now have
become part of the Balkans and the war that we saw in the Balkans, or
if you're an Iraqi Kurd who is trying to escape the ill effects of what
was going on during the Saddam Hussein era, then perhaps you'd
understand why this is so important, because these are individuals who,
because of the good graces of the American people, have an opportunity
to start a life here, even at their late stage in life, and have an
opportunity to recognize and appreciate our freedoms.
But for too many of these refugees, that might all come to an end if
we don't come to their rescue, because they did not expect that, all of
a sudden, because of the massive waiting line there is for people who
are applying for citizenship, legal immigrants who are applying for
citizenship, that all of a sudden their cut off of SSI benefits would
imperil their ability to pay their rent. Or they didn't expect that,
all of a sudden, because of the fact that the paperwork was more
difficult than they thought to fill out, or the fee was more expensive
than they could afford to pay to be able to become U.S. citizens, that
all of a sudden they run out of time with their SSI benefits.
This bipartisan legislation strikes the right chord. It says, we
recognize that you came to this country fleeing persecution, fleeing
threats of death, and you're elderly or disabled, or perhaps both, and
we need to do something to try to show you that we meant what we said
when we were taking you in as refugees.
I think this is legislation that really brings us together, not as
Democrats or Republicans, not as urban Members or rural Members, but it
brings us together as Americans who recognize there are many people
around the world who still look at America as the beacon for the rest
of the world. And I hope that what we are able to do here, at no
taxpayer expense, no taxpayer expense, is to continue to show the rest
of the world that we do extend a hand to those who are facing
persecution.
So I want to applaud Chairman McDermott and Ranking Member Weller for
their great work in putting together a bipartisan bill that should
receive the unanimous support of this House.
Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my friend
and colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. English), a member of the House
Ways and Means Committee and someone who has led on this issue as a
member of the Ways and Means Committee.
Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of
H.R. 2608, the SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act; and
I was particularly pleased to cosponsor this legislation. And I hope
that all of my colleagues will join me in supporting it.
Mr. Speaker, the United States has been a welcoming Nation to
individuals and families fleeing oppression and tyranny in their own
country. Repeatedly we've opened our doors to refugees

[[Page H7565]]

from places like Nazi Germany, Stalin's Soviet Union, Cuba, China and
Vietnam. And more recently, we've taken in dissidents from African
dictatorships, Islamic theocracies, the Balkans, Latin America's
strongmen, and nations suffering from near total anarchy. We've not
discriminated at any time according to race, religion or politics. We
have simply asked refugees to demonstrate that they would face violence
or oppression at home for any of these reasons, and then made them
welcome here in a new home. This is an important part of the American
tradition.
Unfortunately, refugees often arrive in this country with severe
health problems or advanced age. Many of them have spent time in prison
or in re-education camps. Some, like the Hmong tribesmen who testified
before our subcommittee, have shed their own blood in defense of
American values or foreign policy and have been severely punished by
their own governments for doing so. Often these health problems leave
refugees with limited job prospects or ability to gain the skills
necessary to compete for employment. This is particularly true of
elderly refugees who may have difficulty learning English.
As the chairman and ranking member have explained at length, under
current law, these refugees lose their eligibility for SSI benefits,
which is often their primary source of income, after they've lived in
the United States for 7 years, unless they become citizens.
Unfortunately, between the now infamous bureaucracy at the State
Department, the difficulties of learning English, and a cap on green
cards for refugees, many of these individuals are unable, through no
fault of their own, to complete the immigration process in the required
7 years.
Mr. Speaker, we did not welcome these refugees to our shores only to
see them starve in our streets, nor should we impose the burden of
their support on local governments or private sector nonprofit
organizations.

{time} 1630

I am extremely proud that many of these individuals have chosen to
make their new homes in northwestern Pennsylvania, particularly my
hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, which enjoys a national reputation for
welcoming refugees. But our local communities have very limited
resources with which to assist large numbers of low-income refugees.
H.R. 2608 wisely recognizes the Federal nature of our obligation to
help these people build a new life. It is compassionate yet responsible
legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in a ``yes''
vote.
Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, once again, I want to thank Mr. Weller.
Mr. Speaker, I will include in the Record documents relating to this
legislation, including a letter from the Commissioner of Social
Security articulating the need for this bill and an estimate from the
Congressional Budget Office, which highlights the fact that this bill
is completely paid for. In fact, it actually reduces the deficit by
nearly $50 million.

Social Security Administration,

Washington, DC, July 10, 2007.
Hon. Charles B. Rangel,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to provide the Social
Security Administration's (SSA) views on H.R. 2608, the SSI
Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act.
SSA fully supports an extension of the time period in which
refugees, asylees, and certain other humanitarian categories
of noncitizens may remain eligible for Supplemental Security
Income (SSI) while seeking U.S. citizenship. The current time
limit is 7 years, and some aged, blind, and disabled
individuals have been unable to obtain U.S. citizenship
within this time period. The Administration recognizes the
daunting challenges refugees have faced in fleeing tyranny,
the adjustments they must make in their resettlement, and
their need for additional help in their quest for U.S.
citizenship.
Section 2 of H.R. 2608 would amend the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996 to permit a 9-year period for SSI eligibility, provide
retroactive eligibility for refugees and asylees who
previously became ineligible after 7 years, and exempt the
general SSI prohibition for refugees and asylees with pending
naturalization applications. These changes would be in effect
from 2008-2010. This provision is similar to the
Administration's proposal for an extension to 8 years that
was in the President's budget in FY 2005, FY 2006, FY 2007
and FY 2008. One difference between H.R. 2608 and the
Administration's proposal is that the retroactive effect of
H.R. 2608 could require SSA to reinstate SSI payments for
individuals who have been off of the rolls for many years.
While this represents a new workload, we would like to work
with Congress to address the administrative burden inherent
with such an effort, with the overall goal of assisting aged,
blind, and disabled individuals in becoming U.S. citizens.
A similar letter has been sent to Representative McCrery.
Sincerely,
Michael J. Astrue,
Commissioner.

H.R. 2608--SSI EXTENSION FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED REFUGEES ACT
(By fiscal year, in millions of dollars)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 5-year 10-year
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SSI......................................... 47 50 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 133 133
Medicaid.................................... 8 9 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 24
Unemployment comp........................... 0 -57 -57 -58 -58 -59 -60 -60 -61 -61 -230 -531
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total change in outlays............... 55 2 -14 -58 -58 -59 -60 -60 -61 -61 -73 -374
Change in revenues.......................... 0 0 -7 -20 -35 -45 -51 -55 -56 -57 -62 -326
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net budgetary effect........................ 55 2 -7 -38 -23 -14 -9 -5 -5 -4 -11 -48
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes: Assumes enactment at the end of FY 2007. SSI and Medicaid outlays and revenues estimated by CBO; Unemployment Compensation outlays estimated by
JCT. Components may not sum to totals because of rounding. Does not include administrative costs, which are discretionary.

Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of assisting
immigrants who Congress invited to live in the United States because
they were being persecuted in their home countries.
Refugees arrive in this country with little more than the clothes on
their backs. They often have no family in the United States. For those
immigrants who are elderly or have disabilities and cannot work, their
sole source of income is often the meager benefits--typically around
$600 per month--provided by the SSI program.
Under draconian provisions of 1996's so-called ``Welfare Reform''
law, refugess and asylees can only receive SSI benefits for a maximum
of 7 years. To date, this law has caused more than 12,000 elderly and
disabled humanitarian immigrants to lose their benefits and face hunger
and homelessness. The Social Security Administration has estimated that
an additional 40,000 individuals will be terminated from assistance in
the next 10 years if the law is not changed. Leaving immigrants, who
have suffered so much and come to the United States in search of
protection, destitute with no means of support is unconscienable.
Current law assumes that refugees and asylees can complete the
lengthy and expensive citizenship process within 7 years and continue
receiving benefits. For most refugees there is a mandatory 5-year
waiting period before they can even apply for citizenship. With
application backlogs that regularly near 1 million, becoming
naturalized within 7 years is a longshot at best. Acquiring the skills
needed to pass the citizenship test, such as English language
proficiency, may be impossible for immigrants with severe disabilities.
The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act (H.R. 2608)
takes the common sense and compassionate approach of temporarily
extending the time limit by 2 years. This will provide relief to
thousands of individuals facing the loss of their sole source of
support.
While this bill is the best we can do given the present fiscal
environment, we should move toward completely removing the time limits.
Doing so would bring us into compliance with International Conventions
requiring nations to accord lawful refugees the same access to public
benefits that they allow their own citizens. In addition, it would
build on our Nation's tradition of opening our borders to immigrants
escaping persecution and suffering.

[[Page H7566]]

I urge my colleagues to support this important bill, but I hope
everyone recognizes that this bill only represents a partial fix.
Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2608.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________