State House News Service 

     MAY 5, 1999--As the House geared up for its second day of budget debate, hundreds of immigrants rallied at the State House.  Their goal: $11 million for citizenship classes and food stamp programs and passage of a rider requiring interpreters in hospital emergency rooms. 

     Immigrants Day at the State House, sponsored by the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, took place on Cinco de Mayo, the May 5th anniversary of Mexico's 1822 independence from Spain.  The rally was timely - the House today is adding hundreds of budget amendments to its $20.7 billion spending plan for the next fiscal year. 

     Hoping to attach their priorities to the budget, around 700 immigrants 
packed into Gardner Auditorium, representing China, Portugal, Cape Verde, Ireland, Vietnam, Somalia, Bosnia, Morocco, Costa Rica, Haiti, Guatemala, the former Soviet Union and a dozen other countries. 

     MIRA Coalition director Muriel Heiberger told the audience, "You've brought your talent, your vision, your skills, your knowledge, your language and your culture.  You have enriched this country tremendously." 

     As representatives gathered upstairs to begin day two of budget debate, 
Heiberger urged advocates to canvass the building and lobby for amendments aimed at beefing up programs for immigrants and refugees.  Recent federal and state welfare reform laws left many immigrants without needed supports such as food stamps or English classes, she said.  "In that budget, there is not funding for many programs important to you and your children," Heiberger said. 

     One of the amendments calls for $9 million to fully fund the state-sponsored food stamp program (line item 4404-1000) that fills the gap left by the federal welfare reform law.  According to MIRA literature, 18,000 immigrants in Massachusetts lost their federal food stamps in 1997. 
Last year, the Legislature spent $12.8 million to fully fund the program 
for 16,000 people. 

     As a result of partial federal funding restoration and a drop in the 
caseloads, the number of people needing state-funded food stamps fell to 
about 9,000 this year.  MIRA policy coordinator Tyler Moran called on 
lawmakers to reaffirm their commitment by appropriating $9 million. 

     "We need to depend on our state to fill that gap," she said.  "We need to make sure we get that again." 

     Another budget amendment would boost the funding for the Citizenship 
Assistance Program (line item 4000-0122), which provides English and civics classes to immigrants seeking citizenship.  Moran said the program, now in its third year, has helped over 8,000 people. 

     The House budget proposal includes $1.58 million for CAP, but Moran said the program needs $2 million to maintain its current level of services at 
100 community organizations statewide. 

     Costa Rican immigrant Victoria Bolware, a CAP program attendee who is working on a GED, said her reading, writing and speaking improved as a 
result of the program.  She said she also made new friends and learned how to apply for citizenship, which she called her "obligation." 

     "(Citizenship) would allow me to do things I have never been able to do 
before," Bolware said.  "I am excited." 

     Rep. Antonio Cabral (D-New Bedford), one of the Legislature's main CAP proponents, said immigrants have to be fluent enough in English to be able to participate in society, but the programs that can help them achieve that always spark a fight at budget time. 

     "This is a fight every year, mainly because they think we don't participate, they think we're not part of the process, they think you don't vote," said Cabral, himself an immigrant who learned to speak English at age 14.  "Guess what - I think they're wrong.  I'm here today as an elected official and I'm sure some of your sons and daughters will be able to be here one day." 

     Other amendments aim to relieve pressure on welfare recipients who face barriers to employment such as limited English capability or lack of education.  Cabral filed one amendment allowing temporary extensions of the two-year limit on benefits for families that need training to address 
significant barriers. 

     Another amendment, filed by Rep. Daniel Bosley (D-North Adams), would allow English classes, education and skill training to count toward welfare reform's 20-hour per week work requirement. 

     Rep. Anne Paulsen (D-Belmont), a chief proponent of education and training for former welfare recipients, said no one should have their benefits taken away "before they have the opportunity to get a decent job." 

     Hospitals would be required to have interpreters in emergency rooms under a bill (H 1172) filed by Rep. Jarrett Barrios (D-Cambridge).  Barrios, the grandson of Cuban immigrants, said, "To not have an interpreter in the 
emergency room at a time of crisis, when you're having a heart attack or 
your child has a high fever and you don't know what to do because you can't talk to the doctor - it is absolutely critical that hospitals have 
interpreters." 
 

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