Resolution urging the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to support AB 989 which would eliminate the termination date for the period of eligibility for noncitizen families and individuals to receive assistance under the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).
WHEREAS, The City and County of San Francisco is home to thousands of refugees and immigrants; and,
WHEREAS, The City and County of San Francisco has adopted a tolerant policy towards refugees and immigrants and has declared itself to be a City and County of Refuge (San Francisco Administrative Code § 12H.1); and,
WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors established the Immigrant Rights Commission to advise the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors on State and federal legislation effecting immigrants (San Francisco Administrative Code § 5.201(d)(4)); and,
WHEREAS, Immigrants work, pay taxes, and contribute to every sector of California’s economy and culture; and,
WHEREAS, The number of immigrants in the United States has tripled in the last 30 years; and,
WHEREAS, Based on the United States census data more than 40 percent of the immigrants are living at or near poverty level in 2000 as compared to 26 percent in 1970; and,
WHEREAS, The United States Congress enacted Title IV of Public Law 104-193 which denies otherwise eligible immigrants who entered into the United States on or after 1996 assistance from the federal Food Stamp Program and from Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (federal assistance programs); and,
WHEREAS, According to a recent article of the San Francisco Chronicle, Social Security Administration estimated the undocumented workers might have contributed to nearly $4 billion to Social Security; and,
WHEREAS, The State of California enacted the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) to assist immigrants who are otherwise eligible for but are disqualified under Title IV of Public Law 104-193 to receive assistance from the federal assistance programs; and,
WHEREAS, The California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) ensures that eligible families receive adequate nutrition by providing food stamps to those who are no longer eligible for federal food stamps under Title IV of Public Law 104-193; and,
WHEREAS, The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) provides subsistent benefits to seniors and persons with disabilities who are no longer eligible for SSI/SSP benefits under Title VI of Public Law 104-193; and,
WHEREAS, Sections 18930(b)(4) and 18938(a)(3) of the California Welfare and Institutions Code establish a termination date of September 30, 2001 for the period of eligibility for immigrants to receive assistance from CFAP and CAPI, respectively; and,
WHEREAS, Continuing these two programs will ensure that otherwise eligible immigrants will continue to receive assistance in obtaining the basic necessities for life; and,
WHEREAS, Assembly Members Chan and Cedillo have introduced AB 989 which would amend Section 18930(b)(4) and 18938(a)(3) by deleting the termination date of September 30, 2001 thus, ensuring eligible immigrants will continue to receive the needed assistance from CFAP and CAPI; now, therefore, be it
RESOLved, That the San Francisco Immigrant Rights Commission strongly supports AB 989, which would eliminate the termination date for the period of eligibility for otherwise eligible immigrant families and individuals who entered into the United States on or after August 22, 1996 to receive assistance from CFAP and CAPI; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Immigrant Rights Commission urges the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors to adopt a resolution in support of AB 989
