William R. Richardson: “I would hope that we stop personalizing and politicizing this bill. All I seem to hear is Democrats, Republicans, do…”

“I would hope that we stop personalizing and politicizing this bill. All I seem to hear is Democrats, Republicans, do this. I want to talk to Members about people. I want to talk to Members about legal immigrants, men and women who are here legally, pay their taxes, serve in the military, but are taking the biggest hit in all of the bills we are debating today. The bill that is the centerpiece of the majority retains very harsh and uncompromising language. While we all support the strengthening of requirements and the sponsors of legal immigrants applying for either SSI, food stamps, or AFDC, the bill bans SSI and food stamps for virtually all legal immigrants and imposes a 5-year ban on all other Federal programs, including nonemergency Medicaid; imagine that, nonemergency Medicaid, for new legal immigrants. These bans would also cover legal immigrants who become disabled after entering the country, families with children, and current recipients. Madam Chairman, .3 million immigrant children, .3 million, are affected. That is not right. that is not the traditions of this country. Madam Chairman, this bill unfairly shifts costs to States with high numbers of legal immigrants. The bill requires virtually all Federal, State and local benefits programs to verify recipients' citizenship or alien status These are new unfunded mandates for State, local, and nonprofit service providers and barriers to participation for citizens.”