[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14524]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE SSI EXTENSION FOR ELDERLY AND DISABLED REFUGEES ACT 
                                OF 2011

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                           HON. JIM McDERMOTT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 2011

  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the SSI 
Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act of 2011. I introduced a 
similar bill on August 1. This modified version would grant a one-year 
extension of current law, which passed unanimously in both chambers of 
Congress in 2008 and was signed into law by President Bush (P.L. 110-
328). Under this law, elderly and disabled refugees and certain 
humanitarian immigrants who are very low income may receive 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for up to 9 years before becoming 
citizens, to allow time for naturalization. The Senate unanimously 
passed this bill today.
  Unfortunately, the current law expired on September 30, 2011. Without 
immediate passage of this bill, thousands of refugees will face serious 
hardship. This legislation will be completely paid for by collecting a 
$30 fee on diversity visas through October 1, 2013. Excess funds would 
go to the Department of Treasury. Congressional Budget Office estimates 
that this bill would result in $24 million in deficit reduction.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a common sense bill that continues an existing 
law. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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