On September 17, the House passed, by voice vote, H.R. 2608, the SSI [Supplemental Security Income] Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act, as amended and passed by the Senate on August 1. The House originally passed the bill on July 11. The president is expected to sign the bill into law.
The measure would extend through FY2011 SSI benefits eligibility for certain “humanitarian immigrants,” such as refugees, asylees, elderly noncitizens with pending citizenship applications, and victims of human trafficking, including such immigrants whose benefits expired in previous fiscal years. The bill would require that such immigrants, except children under the age of 18, demonstrate a good faith attempt to become American citizens.
