McDermott Responds to Senate Hold on Bipartisan Refugee Bill

Statement

Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) issued this statement following news that a companion bill in the Senate, which has bipartisan support, was being stalled by one Senator. In 2007, Congressman McDermott introduced the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act," which passed unanimously in both chambers of Congress in 2008 and was signed into law by President Bush (P.L. 110-328). McDermott introduced H.R. 3083 this Congress with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), which would provide a one-year extension of Supplemental Security Income benefits to elderly and disabled refugees.

"I've been working hard on this small measure that would help an estimated 5,000 refugees in a big way -- it would keep them out of homeless shelters and allow them to continue learning English and navigate the complex process of naturalization. After securing support from key Senators and House Members, conservatives and progressives, I was disappointed to learn that one Senator is holding up the bill by linking it to a completely unrelated program for refugees. Due to congressional inaction, current law has expired and thousands have been left without these modest benefits. Passing this bill is not just the right thing to do -- it is also good for deficit reduction. CBO estimates that the bill would reduce the deficit by $24 million. Congress should act swiftly to pass this common sense bill."

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