Number: 105-3
Date: May 16, 1997

On May 15, 1997, the House passed the 1997 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Recovery from Natural Disasters, and for Overseas Peacekeeping Efforts, Including Those in Bosnia (H.R. 1469).  The bill was amended to include a provision that would extend from August 22, 1997 until September 30, 1997 the date for ending SSI benefits for noncitizens who were on the SSI rolls at the time of enactment (8/22/96) of the welfare reform legislation (P.L. 104-193), but who do not meet that law's requirements for noncitizen eligibility.

The Senate passed its version of a Supplemental Appropriations bill (S. 672) on May 8, 1997.  It, too, included a provision to extend the SSI termination date to September 30, 1997 for certain noncitizens.

Either the House or Senate would need to consider the bill passed by the other chamber so that the process of reconciling the differences between the House and Senate bills (conference) could begin.  It is expected that a bill will go to conference and be passed by both Houses and sent to the President before the Congress leaves for its Memorial Day recess.