I

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 666

To amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation

Act of 1996 relating to welfare and public benefits for aliens.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 11, 1997

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN (for herself and Mr. DIAZ-BALART) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and

in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To amend the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity

Reconciliation Act of 1996 relating to welfare and public

benefits for aliens.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS TO THE PERSONAL RESPON4 SIBILITY AND WORK OPPORTUNITY REC5 ONCILIATION ACT OF 1996 RELATING TO WEL6 FARE AND PUBLIC BENEFITS FOR ALIENS.

7 (a) EXCEPTION TO LIMITED ELIGIBILITY FOR SSI

8 AND FOOD STAMPS FOR CERTAIN PERMANENT RESIDENT
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1 ALIENS WHO ARE UNABLE BECAUSE OF PHYSICAL OR

2 DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY OR MENTAL IMPAIRMENT

3 TO NATURALIZE.—Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Re4 sponsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of

5 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1612(a)(2)) is amended by adding after

6 subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph:

7 ‘‘(E) CERTAIN DISABLED AND IMPAIRED

8 ALIENS OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE FOR NATU9 RALIZATION.—Paragraph (1) shall not apply to

10 an alien who—

11 ‘‘(i) is lawfully admitted to the United

12 States for permanent residence under the

13 Immigration and Nationality Act; and

14 ‘‘(ii) meets the residence requirements

15 for naturalization under section 316 of the

16 Immigration and Nationality Act, but can17 not fulfill other requirements of the Immi18 gration and Nationality Act for naturaliza19 tion (including requirements under sections

20 312 and 337 of such Act) because the

21 alien is unable due to physical or devel22 opmental disability or mental impairment

23 to comply with such requirements.’’.

24 (b) EXCEPTION TO LIMITED ELIGIBILITY FOR SSI

25 AND FOOD STAMPS FOR CERTAIN PERMANENT RESIDENT
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1 ALIENS WHO ARE APPLICANTS FOR NATURALIZATION.—

2 Section 402(a)(2) of the Personal Responsibility and

3 Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C.

4 1612(a)(2)) is amended by adding after subparagraph (E)

5 (as added by subsection (a)) the following new subpara6 graph:

7 ‘‘(F) PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIENS WHO

8 ARE APPLICANTS FOR NATURALIZATION.—

9 Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien

10 who—

11 ‘‘(i) is lawfully admitted to the United

12 States for permanent residence under the

13 Immigration and Nationality Act;

14 ‘‘(ii) meets the residence requirements

15 for naturalization under section 316 of the

16 Immigration and Nationality Act;

17 ‘‘(iii) is not ineligible for naturaliza18 tion under the Immigration and National19 ity Act; and

20 ‘‘(iv) has an application pending for

21 naturalization under the Immigration and

22 Nationality Act which has not been de23 nied.’’.

24 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

25 subsections (a) and (b) shall be effective as if included
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1 in the enactment of title IV of the Personal Responsibility

2 and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996.

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