FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 1998

Contact: David Spooner
(202) 225-4050

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CONGRESSMAN BOB GOODLATTE (R-VA), CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH JURISDICTION OVER THE FEDERAL FOOD STAMP PROGRAM, TODAY ANNOUNCED HIS OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S PROPOSAL TO EXTEND FOOD STAMPS TO NON-CITIZENS, CRITICIZING THE PRESIDENT'S PROPOSAL FOR PUSHING TO EXPAND FEDERAL WELFARE BENEFITS AT A TIME WHEN CONGRESS' WELFARE REFORMS ARE SUCCEEDING.

In his fiscal year 1999 budget submission, President Clinton proposed new spending of $535 million in food stamp benefits for non-citizens, but failed to indicate how he would pay for this new program.

"For the past century, our laws have said that immigrants who are likely to go on welfare should not be allowed to enter the country, and those who do have been subject to deportation. Non-citizens should look to themselves, their families, and their sponsors, not the American

taxpayers, for financial support," said Goodlatte, who chairs the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Nutrition, and Foreign Agriculture.

"This President fails to understand that welfare hurts people by creating a never-ending cycle of dependency that lasts for generations. In 1996, Congress passed welfare reform legislation to end this cycle of dependency, and just as our reforms are taking hold now is not the time to go back," Goodlatte said.

Goodlatte has led congressional efforts to reform the federal food stamp program and to end waste, fraud, and abuse in the program. Last year, Goodlatte's H.R. 1000 - a bill to end prisoner participation in the food stamp program - passed the House of Representatives by a vote

of 409-0. Goodlatte has pledged to continue to use his subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the food stamp program, to aggressively pursue food stamp waste and fraud and to further the goals of welfare reform.

Congressman Goodlatte represents Virginia's Sixth Congressional District, which includes Roanoke, Lynchburg, and the Shenandoah Valley.