STATEMENT BY KENNETH S. APFEL, COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, CONCERNING SSI FOR ELDERLY NON-CITIZENS

I commend the House Ways and Means Committee today for approving legislation that will retain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid eligibility for 3,400 elderly and disabled noncitizens. This bill, introduced by Florida Representative Clay Shaw and Michigan Representative Sander Levin, grandfathers a small group of noncitizens who otherwise would have lost their cash benefits under SSI as well as medical assistance under Medicaid. The Clinton Administration supports the effort to preserve SSI and Medicaid eligibility for these hardship cases. Chairman Shaw and Representative Levin have shown a great deal of compassion for these vulnerable individuals and I applaud them and thank them for their efforts.

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