Russ Feingold: “I discuss a very important issue to my home State of Wisconsin, and that is the time limits placed on Supplemental…”

“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.”