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June 5, 1997
Members of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources
U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
I write on behalf of the United States Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the U.S. Roman Catholic Bishops, to express our opposition to the benefits for noncitizens proposals contained in the budget reconciliation "Chairman's Mark" under consideration by the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Resources. We believe that the chairman's mark does not meet minimally acceptable standards for ameliorating the harmful effects that last year's welfare reform law (P.L. 104-93) has had on noncitizens. While we also believe that the bipartisan budget agreement's proposals on benefits for immigrants do not go far enough in restoring needed benefits for noncitizens, we encourage the Subcommittee and Committee to adopt the bipartisan budget agreement proposals instead of those contained in the chairman's mark.
We are also deeply concerned about additional provisions that we understand may be included in the chairman's mark that are completely unrelated to the budget agreement. These provisions have no place in budget reconciliation legislation.
Most noncitizens have worked in the United States for years, paying their taxes, building their families, enriching their communities and contributing to this great nation. Last year, the Bishops of the United States unanimously endorsed the statement of our President, Bishop Anthony M. Pilla of Cleveland, in which he noted that "all of us at some point may be affected by hunger, poor health, housing needs, family crises, and aging." He went on to point out that the immigration "reform" legislation then under consideration was "so overreaching and restrictive that it would make it almost impossible for legal taxpaying immigrants to seek assistance when confronted with the vicissitudes of life." The words readily affirmed by the Bishops then are just as applicable to the proposals being considered by the Subcommittee today.
Again, my brother bishops and I urge your support for enactment of meaningful, permanent legislation which will protect the most vulnerable members of society who are in need of that protection because they are or may become elderly or infirm. It is imperative that we avert the personal tragedies which will be suffered by the members of our communities when this law is fully implemented. Therefore, we urge you to oppose the noncitizen provisions in the chairman's mark and, at a minimum, support the bipartisan budget agreement.
Sincerely,
Most Reverend John S. Cummins
Bishop of Oakland
Chairman, NCCB Committee on Migration