[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5490]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




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

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. DONNA M. CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 18, 2002

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support of the Baca motion 
to instruct conferees and urge my colleagues to support its adoption.
  My colleagues, President Bush proposed the restoration of food stamps 
for legal immigrants who have been in this country for five years in 
his fiscal year 2003 budget. Following the President's lead, our 
colleagues in the other body voted overwhelmingly to include the 
President's proposal in the Senate version of the Farm bill.
  We are here tonight however, because our colleagues on the other side 
of the aisle on the conference of the Farm bill regrettably voted to 
block the Bush proposal to restore food stamps for legal immigrants and 
supported a more stringent proposal instead; which would make it 
virtually impossible for immigrant families to qualify for food stamp 
benefits. The opposition to the President's proposal will prevent more 
than 50,000 people from benefiting from a program that helps poor 
families feed their children.
  Restoring food stamp benefits for low-income legal permanent 
residents and children is the right and responsible thing to do.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Baca motion to instruct.