March 11, 2005 (Updated June 22, 2005)

As leaders of American Jewish organizations, we share in the core national value of offering safe haven and protection to those fleeing persecution. As such, we encourage passage of legislation that will provide an additional two years of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to elderly and disabled refugees and other humanitarian migrants. This legislation was recently introduced by Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Herb Kohl (D-WI), and Representatives Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and Phil English (R-PA) (S.453/H.R.899).

Mirroring American traditions, Jewish teachings emphasize protection for the stranger, as seen in the over 36 references to this principle within the Torah, including: “When strangers sojourn with you in your land, you shall not do them wrong. The strangers who sojourn with you shall be to you as the natives among you, and you shall love them as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Leviticus 19:33-34). Jewish tradition also instructs us in principles of Piddyon Shevuyim (redeeming the captive), Hiddur Pnai Zaken (respect for elders), Chesed (kindness), and Hachnasat Orchim (hospitality), which support a compassionate response to the problems of refugees and the elderly.

Over the past two decades, the Jewish community, in partnership with the U.S. government, has resettled over 380,000 refugees from the former Soviet Union, as well as tens of thousands from other volatile areas of the world. Many of these individuals – victims of religious persecution – were elderly and disabled upon reaching our shores. It has been an honor for the Jewish community to assist refugees so that as many as possible can become citizens.

Understanding our country’s responsibility to care for those whom we have brought to safety, lawmakers made special provision in the 1996 welfare law to allow refugees continued eligibility for public benefits programs. Among the most critical are SSI benefits, which provide life-sustaining assistance to the elderly and disabled. Refugees and asylees were made eligible for SSI for seven years, with the belief that they could naturalize – and thus maintain their benefits – within this time period.

However, because of processing delays, difficulty learning English, and a cap on the number of asylees issued green cards each year, seven years is not long enough for many individuals to become citizens. As a result, these elderly and disabled refugees are being cut-off from SSI benefits and face hardship and poverty. We understand that by 2010, approximately 20,000 refugees will lose SSI, 8,000 of whom will be from the former Soviet Union.

The pending House and Senate legislation has received bipartisan support. Furthermore President Bush, in his fiscal year 2006 budget request, identified this grave problem as one needing an immediate solution. We urge passage of this modest but life-sustaining provision of critical importance to the Jewish community during this session of Congress.

NATIONAL:
Agudath Israel of America

American Association of Jews from the Former USSR

American Congress of Bukharian Jews

American Jewish Committee

Anti-Defamation League

Association of Jewish Aging Services

Association of Jewish Family and Children's Agencies

B'nai B'rith International

Hebrew Free Loan Society

Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society

International Association of Jewish Vocational Services

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

Jewish Labor Committee

Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

NCSJ: Advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States and Eurasia

National Council of Jewish Women

Russian-American Voter Education League

Union For Reform Judaism

Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

United Jewish Communities

United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism

Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring

Baltimore Jewish Council

Borough Park Jewish Community Council

Canton Jewish Community Federation and Jewish Family Services, Canton, OH

Council of Jewish Organizations of Flatbush

Crown Heights Jewish Community Council Federation

HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia

Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action

Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit

Jewish Community Council of Rockaway Peninsula

Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington

Jewish Community Relations Council of Southern Arizona

Jewish Community Relations Council of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties

Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland, Ohio

Jewish Family Service Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Clifton/Passaic

Jewish Family Service of Buffalo and Erie County

Jewish Family Service of Cincinnati

Jewish Family Service, Seattle

Jewish Family Services of Milwaukee

Jewish Family Services, Columbus

Jewish Family Services, Milwaukee

Jewish Federation of Atlantic and Cape May Counties

Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey

Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County

Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County

Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle

Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago

Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey

Marks JCH of Bensonhurst

Maryland Association of Jews from the Former USSR

Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty

Milwaukee Jewish Council for Community Relations

Milwaukee Jewish Federation

New Haven Jewish Community Relations Council

New Jersey State Association of Jewish Federations

New York Association for New Americans

Ohio Jewish Communities

UJA-Federation of New York

United Jewish Communities of MetroWest New Jersey

United Jewish Council of the Lower East Side

United Jewish Federation of San Diego County

United Jewish Organization of Williamsburg