HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-96-0375j
J-96-496
5/23/96
RESOLUTION NO. 9 6 — 375
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A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
URGING THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND i
THE U.S. SENATE TO INCORPORATE LANGUAGE IN
THE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILLS (H.R. 2202 AND
S-1664), CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, ENSURING THAT THOSE
PERSONS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE
LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS BUT WHO ARE NOT U.S.
CITIZENS, WOULD NOT BE DENIED PUBLIC
I BENEFITS; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO
TRANSMIT COPIES OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE
PRESIDENT OF THE U.S. SENATE, CHAIR OF THE
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, AND THE MEMBERS OF THE
FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
WHEREAS, Federal Immigration Reform Bills (H.R. 2202) and (S-1664) will
be reconciled in a Conference Committee comprised of bipartisan members of the
House and Senate; and
WHEREAS, among the issues being considered are those of continuing
public benefits, such as health and social service programs, to those persons
having legal immigration status in the United States, but who are not U. S.
{ citizens; and
WHEREAS, denial of these benefits would negatively impact a large
segment of the population, especially children and the elderly;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI,
FLORIDA:
Wilt' COMMISSION
L rIEETlN'G OF
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MAY ,996
• �" f{esdlUtion lVo.
't fib` 375
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Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this
Resolution are hereby adopted by reference thereto and incorporated herein as
if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The Miami City Commission urges the U.S. House of
Representatives and the U.S. Senate to incorporate language in the Immigration
Reform Bills (H.R. 2202 and 5-1664), currently under consideration by the
Conference Committee, ensuring that those persons living in the United States
who have legal immigration status, but who are not United States citizens,
would not be denied public benefits.
Section 3. The City Clerk is hereby directed to transmit copies of this
Resolution to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President of
the U. S. Senate, the Chair of the Conference Committee, and the Florida
C i1 D 1 t' i
ongressona a ega on.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its
adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of May, 199F..,';
I : 'STEPfiEj P . CLARK, MAYOR
ATTE T:
WALTER J F
CITY CLE
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
l
A. 6-ig JO ES, III
CITY ATTORN Y
wsxs:CSK
96- 375
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
To Honorable Mayor and M bers DATE May 23, 1996
FILE
j of the City Co si
iSUBJECT Pocket Item
FROM Wifredo (W' y) Gort REFERENCES.
j Vice May r ENCLOSURESAttachments
l .
I would like to bring up as a pocket item on the May 23, 1996, Commission Meeting a resolution
of the City of Miami Commission urging the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate
to incorporate language in the Immigration Reform Bills (H.R. 2202 and s-1664).
Thank you for your cooperation.
WG/kk
I` cc: Cesar Odio, City Manager
A. Quinn Jones, City Attorney
I Walter Foeman, City Clerk
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96- 375
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J-9
5/23/96
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RESOLUTION NO.
f
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION
URGING THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND
THE U.S. SENATE TO INCORPORATE LANGUAGE IN
THE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILLS (H.R. 2202 AND
S-1664), CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, ENSURING THAT THOSE
PERSONS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES WHO HAVE
LEGAL IMMIGRATION STATUS BUT WHO ARE NOT U.S.
CITIZENS, WOULD NOT BE DENIED PUBLIC
BENEFITS; DIRECTING THAT A COPY OF THIS
RESOLUTION BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE PRESIDENT
OF THE U. S. SENATE, CHAIR OF THE CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE, AND THE FLORIDA CONGRESSIONAL
{
j
DELEGATION.
{
96~ 375
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Immigration Reform Bill Passes Both House and Senate
and
The Impact on Public Benefits and Communities
Federal Immigration Reform Bills (H.R. 2202) and (S-1664) will be reconciled in a
conference committee comprised of House and Senate Democrats and Republicans, and
then sent to each chamber for final vote. Although there are certain consistencies between
the House and Senate language there are distinct differences in which the Senate version is
harsher than the House version.
Among other issues relative to document controls and border patrols are issues of major
impact on public benefits and local health issues and social services programs. Especially at
risk are the populations of children and elderly. Florida's Legislature has also examined
some of these issues and have proposed provisions to follow federal policy on non -citizen
eligibility in its welfare reform bill.
Some of the changes under consideration are:
Deny: Social Security, Food Stamps, AFDC, Unemployment, Medicaid, Public
Housing and Housing Subsidaries (Section S and 202) and other forms of public
assistance from federal, state and local needs programs to those "not lawfully present"
in this country (definitions vary, but language is in both bills). The Senate bill would
deny all means tested programs to those "legal" immigrants who are not US citizens.
As well as, government grants, contracts, loans, and professional or commercial
licenses.
• Deny public education to "unlawfully present" children (House bill).
• Deport immigrants who receive needs based payments for more than twelve months
(exemptions provided, language in both the House and Senate bills).
• Reduce Medicaid reimbursements for prenatal and post partum care for immigrants who
have been here more than three years (Senate bill).
• Barring all Earned Income Tax Credit to all non -US citizens.
• Tighten the sponsor deeming provisions in AFDC, Food Stamps and Medicaid and
add deeming requirements for other programs (both the House and Senate bills).
96- 375
The extent of the local impact of these changes, if enacted,
is uncertain but formidable.
The following data sheds some light on the local impact:
• Approximately one fourth of the people receiving public assistance each month in Dade
County are not US citizens 1
1. Approximately 21, 000 non citizens receive AFDC 1
2. Approximately 125, 000 non -citizens receive Food Stamps 1
3. Approximately 40,000 non -citizens receive SSI 2
4 4. Approximately 61,000 non -citizens receive Medicaid 3
• More than 10,000 recently arrived refugees and entrants receive refugee cash and
medical assistance in Dade County each month 1
• 22,310 of the 26,777 (83%) of the new arrivals who accessed Florida's refugee
j assistance program in FFY 95 lived in district I I I
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District 11 experienced a 127% increase in new refugee assistance participation from
FFY 94 to FFY 951
• Trends indicate that Dade County can expect to absorb 31,000 more new refugees and
entrants during this fiscal year 1
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1 Department of HRS, District 11, State of Florida
2 Social Security Administration, Regional Office, State of Florida
3 Medicaid Office, District 11, Agency for Health CAre Administration, State of Flooida
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96- 375