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NEEDY U.S. CITIZENS RESIDING IN PUERTO RICO RECEIVE AVERAGE MONTHLY PAYMENTS OF $32 UNDER THE AABD PROGRAM, WHEREAS NEEDY U.S. CITIZENS IN THE STATES RECEIVE $368 UNDER SSI. THOSE RETIRED PERSONS WITH LOW PENSIONS AND/OR THOSE DEPENDENT ON MINIMUM SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS WHOSE INCOME DOES NOT REACH $368 PER MONTH WOULD RECEIVE THE DIFFERENCE THROUGH SSI. CURRENTLY, IT IS KNOWN THAT A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF ELDERLY PUERTO RICANS RELOCATE IN THE STATES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH AN ADEQUATE INCOME. THE CEILING ON THE FUNDING FOR SSI AND AFDC DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE REAL NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLE AND RESULTS IN INEQUITIES AND GEOGRAPHICAL DISCRIMINATION. IF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANAS CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN SSI, SO CAN THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO. IT IS OUR CONVICTION THAT THE AMERICAN CITIZENS IN PUERTO RICO DESERVE NO LESS, AND THAT THE SSI PROGRAM SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO THE ISLAND AND THE LIMITATIONS IN THE AFDC PROGRAM BE ELIMINATED.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE 460,000 ELDERLY CITIZENS IN PUERTO RICO: A SIZEABLE PERCENTAGE OF OUR POPULATION. THREE QUARTERS OF THE ELDERLY SUFFER ONE OR MORE CHRONIC ILLNESSES. FURTHERMORE, IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT MORE THAN 60% OF ELDER PUERTO RICANS RECEIVE AN ANNUAL INCOME WELL UNDER THE POVERTY LEVEL. DESPITE ALL OF THESE CONDITIONS, OUR ELDERLY HAVE TO DEVOTE MOST OF THEIR LIMITED RESOURCES TO PRIVATE MEDICAL CARE.

IN 1981 CONGRESS APPROVED PUBLIC LAW NO. 97-35, WHICH REMOVED PUERTO RICO FROM THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM AND

ESTABLISHED A BLOCK GRANT OF $825 MILLION AND CAPPED IT AT THAT LEVEL. AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION, 100,000 NEEDY FAMILIES WERE EXCLUDED FROM THE PROGRAM. THROUGH A LONG AND HARD CAMPAIGN IN CONGRESS, WE HAVE MANAGED TO RAISE THAT CEILING TO THE PRESENT LEVEL OF $908 MILLION. HOWEVER, I MUST STRESS THAT THIS AMOUNT BARELY MEETS 50% OF THE NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES. FOR INSTANCE, A TYPICAL FAMILY OF FOUR RECEIVES $298 A MONTH IN FOOD STAMPS IN THE STATES, WHILE IN PUERTO RICO IT RECEIVES ONLY $199.

THERE IS ALSO A CEILING OF $70 MILLION DOLLARS IMPOSED ON THE MEDICAID PROGRAM IN PUERTO RICO WITH A MATCHING REQUIREMENT OF 50%. THE LACK OF PARITY UNDER THIS PROGRAM LIMITS THE ACCESSIBILITY OF ADEQUATE HEALTH SERVICES TO INDIGENT PUERTO RICANS AND THE CAPACITY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO TO IMPROVE HEALTH DELIVERY. THE CURRENT LIMITATIONS CONTRIBUTE TO THE POVERTY OF THOSE WHO MUST INVEST THEIR LIMITED FUNDS IN PRIVATE MEDICAL CARE.

SENATORS, WE HAVE BEFORE US AN ISSUE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, THAT GOES TO THE CORE OF OUR BELIEF THAT EVERY U.S. CITIZEN IS ENTITLED TO A MINIMUM STANDARD OF LIVING IN OUR SOCIETY. OUR WELFARE SYSTEM WAS CONCEIVED TO PROVIDE NEEDY INDIVIDUALS WITH THE ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE THEM TO LIVE THEIR LIVES IN AT LEAST A MINIMALLY DECENT FASHION. PUERTO RICO HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM PARTICIPATION IN PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL IN OUR EFFORTS TO BUILD A MORE JUST SOCIETY WITH SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS OF THE AFFLICTED. IT IS IN YOUR HANDS TO REDRESS THIS DISCRIMINATION.

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Number of Students in Post-Secondary Education Institutions**

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Source: Puerto Rico Planning Board, Socio-economic Statistics, 1988;
Compendio de Estadisticas Sociales, 1985.

GRAPH # 2

Dollars

Per Capita Federal Transfers to Persons, U.S.

and Puerto Rico: 1981 to 1988

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Nole: Information corresponds to actual receipts or disbursements.

Sources: Puerto Rico Planning Board, Informe Economico ol Gobernador 1988;

-U.S. Bureau of the Census, Federal Expenditures by Slole forFiscal Years 1981 to 1988.

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TABLE # 3

Direct Payments for Individuals: Per Capita Amounts Puerto Rico and Selected States: 1988

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Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Federal Expenditures by Slate for Fiscal Year 1988

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