FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Contact: (202) 225-3625
September 21, 1998
No. FC-33A
Congressman Bill Archer (R-TX), Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that on Friday, September 18, 1998, the Committee ordered favorably reported, with amendment, H.R. 4558, the "Noncitizen Benefit Clarification and Other Technical Amendments Act of 1998," by voice vote.
DESCRIPTION OF H.R. 4558 AS APPROVED:
Continuing Eligibility for Certain Aliens Receiving Benefits in August 1996 -- The bill would permanently extend the eligibility of all "nonqualified" aliens who were receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits when the welfare reform law was passed in August 1996 (P.L. 104-193). Their benefits had been previously extended through September 30, 1998, by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33). After conducting thousands of case reviews, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has informed the Committee that approximately 18,000 of the 22,000 recipients originally listed as "nonqualified" aliens are believed to be citizens or qualified aliens and thus eligible for benefits under current law. The bill would offset the costs of this extension with savings from other provisions in the bill.
Extension of the Unemployment Insurance Self-Employment Assistance Program -- Under current law, the authorization of the Unemployment Insurance Self-Employment Assistance program will expire on December 8, 1998. The bill would permanently extend the authorization of the program, which would allow States to assist unemployed workers in setting up their own businesses.
Corrections to the Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998 (P.L. 105-200) -- This provision would allow a State that fails to comply with the 1996 child support data processing requirements to have its annual penalty reduced by 20 percent for each of the five performance measures under the child support incentive system for which it achieves a maximum score. In addition, the provision would clarify the date by which States must pass laws implementing medical child support provisions to allow time for States legislatures that meet biennially to pass laws after final Federal regulations are issued in year 2000.
Eligibility of Nonresident Aliens to Obtain or Renew Professional Licenses -- Under current law, nonimmigrants in the United States are permitted to obtain or renew professional licenses in keeping with their authorization to work while in the United States. The bill would allow nonresident professionals to obtain or renew their U.S. professional licenses even if they are not in the United States as nonimmigrants.
Clarification of Obligation of Welfare-to-Work Funds -- The bill would make a clarifying amendment providing that the one-year obligation requirement for welfare-to-work grant funds -- and the consequent reallocation of unobligated funds -- would not apply to the 15 percent funds for special projects controlled by governors or to the funds for States that have only one service delivery area.
Disregard of Awards Made to Children on SSI Because of Life-Threatening Conditions -- When organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation grant "wishes" to children with life-threatening conditions (for example, airfare and spending money so a child with cancer can go to Disney World), any cash gift will reduce or even eliminate the child's eligibility for SSI. This provision would exclude, from SSI eligibility and benefit determinations, up to $2,000 in cash awards made by tax-exempt organizations to children with life-threatening conditions.
Enhanced Recovery of SSI Overpayments from Social Security Benefits -- Current law allows SSA to recover SSI overpayments from subsequent SSI payments and allows recovery of Social Security retirement, survivor, and disability overpayments from subsequent Social Security payments. The bill would authorize SSA to collect SSI overpayments by offsetting Social Security benefits, with a maximum monthly offset of no more than 10 percent of the Social Security benefit.