We Couldn't Have Done It Without You! assistance to the elderly and disabled. Refugees and asylum-seekers were made eligible for SSI for seven years, with the belief that they could natu- ralize within this time period. Because of processing delays, diffi- culty learning English and a cap on the number of asylum-seekers issued green cards each year, seven years is not long enough for many individuals to become citizens. As a result, these elderly and dis- abled refugees are being cut off from SSI benefits and face hardship and poverty Legislation has been introduced in both chambers of Congress to provide an additional two years of SSI to eld- erly and disabled refugees. The legisla- tion has bi-partisan support in both chambers and President Bush has rec- ognized this problem as one needing an immediate solution. The Jewish Community Council asks you to urge your senators and representatives to cosponsor the "SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act" (S.453/H.R.899). Senior Transportation: The Jewish community is concerned about the lack of funding for senior transporta- tion, which allows seniors to age in place. Providing such support services is significantly less expensive than other forms of care, such as nursing homes. The House and Senate have passed their transportation bills and are now entering a conference com- mittee to reconcile differences between the two bills. Final legislation should include the best features of both bills, where there are differences. First, Congress should increase funding for the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Section 5310 program. The Senate's bill provides more than $232 million in funding for this program. Second, Congress should allow states to have more flexibility in their use of Section 5310 funds by allowing those funds to be utilized for operat- ing expenses as well as capital expen- ditures, a provision included in the House bill. Third, Congress should authorize a national technical assistance center to share models and best practices related to senior transportation, a provision that was included in the Senate's bill. ❑ Compiled by Eric Adelman of the Jewish Community Council of Metropolitan Detroit, and Susan Herman and Jeannie Weiner of the Michigan Jewish Conference; edited by Harry Kirsbaum, staff writer. Over 325 volunteers from Federation partner agencies and congregations made thousands of calls and raised $1.2 million at this year's CAMPAIGN COUNTDOWN. On behalf of the people you've helped locally and throughout the world... Participating Agencies BBYO Akiva Hebrew Day School Fresh Air Society Hebrew Free Loan Association Hillel Day School Hillel of Metropolitan Detroit Hillel MSU Hillel - U of M Jewish Academy of Metropolitan Detroit Jewish Apartments & Services Jewish Community Center Jewish Family Service Yeshiva Beth Yehuda Yeshiva Darchei Torah Participating Congregations Adat Shalom Beth Ahm B'nai Moshe Beth Shalom Shaarey Zedek Shir Tikvah Temple Beth El Temple Israel Temple Kol Ami Temple Shir Shalom Young Israel of Oak Park A special thanks to our GOLDEN PHONE AWARD WINNER Yeshiva Beth Yehuda 2005 Campaign Countdown Co-Chairs Regina Colton Sharon Lipton Baylee Shulman Mark Milgrom 2005 Annual Campaign Co Chairs - Marta Rosenthal Michael Horowitz FEDERATION'S 2005 ANNUAL CAMPAIGN 1;E Fifth Third Bank Together. We can do a world of good. Working Hard To Be The Only Bank You'll Ever Need. This is Federation 5/26 2005 wvvw.thisisfederation.org 979900 17