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HR 2597 105th Congress House

Equity for Immigrants Act

Official title: To rescind restrictions on welfare and public benefits for legal immigrants enacted by title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliat… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To rescind restrictions on welfare and public benefits for legal immigrants enacted by title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, and to reduce arms transfer subsidies.

Introduced: October 1, 1997 See on congress.gov
Social Welfare Administrative feesAfrica (Sub-Saharan)AliensAmerican economic assistance
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American military assistanceAppropriationsArmed Forces and National SecurityArms salesAustraliaCambodiaCaribbean areaCommerceCostsDefense industriesEast AsiaEconomics and Public FinanceEritreaEthiopiaEuropeExport creditFeesForeign Trade and International FinanceForeign loansForeign trade promotionGreeceHaitiImmigrantsImmigrationInternational AffairsInternational military forcesJapanLatin AmericaLawLeasesLicensesMiddle East and North AfricaMilitary and naval suppliesMilitary researchNATO countriesNew ZealandOceaniaPeacekeeping forcesResearch and developmentScience, Technology, CommunicationsSurplus government propertyTrade fairsTurkeyUgandaWelfare eligibility
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 6, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Oct 2, 1997
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1922-1923)
Oct 1, 1997
Referred to House International Relations
Oct 1, 1997
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Oct 1, 1997
Referred to House Ways and Means
Oct 1, 1997
Introduced in House
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 Latest action October 6, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Termination of Provisions of Public Law 104-193

Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Legal

Immigrants

Title II: Reduction in Arms Transfer Subsidies

Equity for Immigrants Act - Title I: Termination of Provisions of Public Law 104-193 Restricting Welfare and Public Benefits for Legal Immigrants - Declares that, on October 1, 1998, the provisions of title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193, as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-33)), which restrict welfare and public benefits for legal immigrants, shall cease to be effective, the amendments made by that title shall be repealed, and any provision of law repealed by that title shall be reenacted.

Title II: Reduction in Arms Transfer Subsidies - Amends the Arms Export Control Act to repeal provisions with respect to: (1) leases of defense articles and loan authority for cooperative research and development purposes; and (2) the President's authority to waive specified charges for sales that would significantly advance North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) standardization, standardization with armed forces of specified other countries, or foreign procurement in the United States under coproduction arrangements.

(Sec. 202) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to repeal the President's authority to transfer excess defense articles to certain other countries.

(Sec. 203) Amends the Arms Export Control Act to state that any sale involving the export of major defense equipment pursuant to a license or other approval, except in certain circumstances, shall include an appropriate charge, comparable to a specified charge imposed for government-to-government sales, for a proportionate amount of the nonrecurring costs incurred by the United States in the research, development, and production of such equipment.

(Sec. 204) Declares that no military financing program funds under the Arms Export Control Act may be made available for: (1) grants or loans to Greece, Turkey, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Uganda, Caribbean countries, or any country eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace Initiative in FY 1997; or (2) the Enhanced International Peacekeeping Initiative.

(Sec. 205) Declares that no Economic Support Fund moneys under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 may be made available for Turkey, Haiti, or Cambodia to offset costs of purchasing defense articles or defense services from the United States.

(Sec. 206) Declares that no Federal funds may be used to offset the cost of a demonstration or exhibition of defense articles or defense services at a trade show or other international arms bazaar or promotional event in a foreign country.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2597: Equity for Immigrants Act. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2597/
MLA
"H.R. 2597: Equity for Immigrants Act." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2597/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2597, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2597/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2597: Equity for Immigrants Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2597/)
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