On June 23, 1998, President Clinton signed a bill (S 1150) that restores food stamp benefits to some 250,000 immigrants.  The President said that this measure "rights a wrong" that was committed when the benefits were first eliminated in the Welfare Reform Bill of 1996.  The food stamp measure is only one part of an agriculture bill that affects agricultural research, crop insurance, and rural development.

With an $818 million package, the newly signed Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 will extend food stamp benefits to immigrants who lawfully resided in the US as of August 22, 1996 and are:

1. At least 65 years of age; or

2. Disabled, according to the Food Stamp program's definition, regardless of when they became disabled; or

3. Children under 18 years of age; or

4. Hmong or highland Lao tribe members who aided the US armed forces during the Vietnam War, their spouses, dependent children, and widow(er)s of those deceased who have not remarried; or

5. Native Americans born in Canada or Mexico who are entitled under treaty law to reside in the US.

The USDA estimates that the number of affected immigrants is highest in California, New York, Florida and Texas.  However, the number of immigrants who will receive restored benefits is only about one-third of those who lost benefits as a result of the 1996 law.

The new law also extends the exemption to the lifetime bar for refugees, asylees, those granted withholding of deportation, Cuban/Haitian entrants, and Amerasians from five years to seven years.

In related news, Hawaii has recently released $1.8 million in state funds to provide medical services to immigrants who were cut off from federal Medicaid benefits in 1996.  This program will provide for the medical treatment of immigrants who are not insured and are ineligible for federal Medicaid or the state's QUEST program.  QUEST estimates that 800-1,000 immigrants in the state were cut off from Medicaid after the 1996 welfare law changes.