[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 141 (Monday, October 3, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 3, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
           UNITED STATES-MEXICO BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION ACT

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1225) to authorize and encourage the President to 
conclude an agreement with Mexico to establish a United States-Mexico 
Border Health Commission.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1225

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``United States-Mexico border 
     Health Commission Act''.

     SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF BORDER HEALTH COMMISSION.

       The President is authorized and encouraged to conclude an 
     agreement with Mexico to establish a binational commission to 
     be known as the United States-Mexico Border Health 
     Commission.

     SEC. 3. DUTIES.

       It should be the duty of the Commission--
       (1) to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment in the 
     United States-Mexico Border Area for the purposes of 
     identifying, evaluating, preventing, and resolving health 
     problems and potential health problems that affect the 
     general population of the area;
       (2) to implement the actions recommended by the needs 
     assessment through--
       (A) assisting in the coordination and implementation of the 
     efforts of public and private entities to prevent and resolve 
     such health problems, and
       (B) assisting in the coordination and implementation of 
     efforts of public and private entities to educate such 
     population, in a culturally competent manner, concerning such 
     health problems; and
       (3) to formulate recommendations to the Governments of the 
     United States and Mexico concerning a fair and reasonable 
     method by which the government of one country could reimburse 
     a public or private entity in the other country for the cost 
     of a health care service that the entity furnishes to a 
     citizen of the first country who is unable, through insurance 
     or otherwise, to pay for the service.

     SEC. 4 OTHER AUTHORIZED FUNCTIONS.

       In addition to the duties described in section 3, the 
     Commission should be authorized to perform the following 
     functions as the Commission determines to be appropriate--
       (1) to conduct or support investigations, research, or 
     studies designed to identify, study, and monitor, on an on-
     going basis, health problems that affect the general 
     population in the United States-Mexico Border Area;
       (2) to conduct or support a binational, public-private 
     effort to establish a comprehensive and coordinated system, 
     which uses advanced technologies to the maximum extent 
     possible, for gathering health-related data and monitoring 
     health problems in the United States-Mexico Border Area; and
       (3) to provide financial, technical, or administrative 
     assistance to public or private nonprofit entities who act to 
     prevent or resolve such problems or who educate the 
     population concerning such health problems.

     SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP.

       (a) Number and Appointment of United States Section.--The 
     United States section of the Commission should be composed of 
     13 members. The section should consist of the following 
     members:
       (1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services or the 
     Secretary's delegate.
       (2) The commissioners of health or chief health officer 
     from the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California 
     or such commissioners' delegates.
       (3) Two individuals residing in United States-Mexico Border 
     Area in each of the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and 
     California who are nominated by the chief executive officer 
     of the respective States and appointed by the President from 
     among individual who have demonstrated ties to community-
     based organizations and have demonstrated interest and 
     expertise in health issues of the United States-Mexico Border 
     Area.
       (b) Commissioner.--The Commissioner of the United States 
     section of the Commission should be the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services or such individual's delegate to the 
     Commission. The Commissioner should be the leader of the 
     section.
       (c) Compensation.--Members of the United States section of 
     the Commission who are not employees of the United States or 
     any State--
       (1) shall each receive compensation at a rate of not to 
     exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay 
     payable for positions at GS-15 of the General Schedule under 
     section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day 
     such member is engaged in the actual performance of the 
     duties of the Commission; and
       (2) shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
     lieu of subsistence at rates authorized for employees of 
     agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
     States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of 
     business in the performance of services of the Commission.

     SEC. 6. REGIONAL OFFICES.

       The Commission may designate or establish one border health 
     office in each of the States of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, 
     and California. Such office should be located within the 
     United States-Mexico Border Area, and should be coordinated 
     with--
       (1) State border health offices; and
       (2) local nonprofit organizations designated by the State's 
     chief executive officer and directly involved in border 
     health issues.

     If feasible to avoid duplicative efforts, the Commission 
     offices should be located in existing State or local 
     nonprofit offices. The Commission should provide adequate 
     compensation for cooperative efforts and resources.

     SEC. 7. REPORTS.

       Not later than February 1 of each year that occurs more 
     than 1 year after the date of the establishment of the 
     Commission, the Commission should submit an annual report to 
     both the United States Government and the Government of 
     Mexico regarding all activities of the Commission during the 
     preceding calendar year.

     SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Act:
       (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the United 
     States-Mexico Border Health Commission.
       (2) Health problem.--The term ``health problem'' means a 
     disease or medical ailment or an environmental condition that 
     poses the risk of disease or medical ailment. The term 
     includes diseases, ailments, or risks of disease or ailment 
     caused by or related to environmental factors, control of 
     animals and rabies, control of insect and rodent vectors, 
     disposal of solid and hazardous waste, and control and 
     monitoring of air quality.
       (3) Secretary.--The term `'Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services.
       (4) United states-mexico border area.--The term ``United 
     States-Mexico Border Area'' means the area located in the 
     United States and Mexico within 100 kilometers of the border 
     between the United States and Mexico.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Waxman] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Moorhead] will be recognized for 20 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Waxman].


                             general leave

  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
the Senate bill now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present to the House S. 1225, 
legislation authorizing the President to establish a United States-
Mexico Border Health Commission. The legislation is similar to H.R. 
2305, a bill authored by the distinguished gentleman from Texas [Mr. 
Coleman] and reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce on August 
19.
  In order to expedite consideration of this matter prior to 
adjournment, our colleagues in the other body have made changes in 
their original bill to more closely reflect the original House 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, the 2,000-mile border shared by the United States and 
Mexico is an area with great economic potential. Unfortunately, the 
dangers posed by unaddressed health and environmental problems threaten 
to undermine our progress in the development of this region: Sanitation 
and waste disposal facilities are inadequate or nonexistent; 
communicable diseases originating in this area frequently spread to 
other parts of the country; and access to health services is comparable 
to that of many third-world countries.
  Mr. Speaker, the Demographic issues facing the United States-Mexico 
border are unlike those found in any other part of the United States. 
The border communities are generally very poor, with more than a third 
living at or below the poverty line in the United States alone, and an 
unemployment rate over 2.5 times higher than the rest of the country. 
The sanitary infrastructure deficiencies of the border area are 
enormous, contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality from 
communicable disease and chemical exposure.
  While there have been a number of State and locally sponsored 
projects to address border health problems, the longterm impact of such 
efforts has been limited by the lack of significant participation by 
both State and Federal representatives from both countries.
  These problems can only be addressed through the cooperative effort 
of both countries.
  The legislation before us would authorize the President to establish 
a binational commission to investigate and coordinate solutions to 
these serious problems. The commission would conduct an assessment of 
the border area, and develop appropriate interventions and educational 
strategies.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1225 enjoys broad bipartisan support. Like H.R. 2305, 
the Senate bill is strongly supported by the Governors of the border 
States Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California.
  Passage of S. 1225 will establish a meaningful framework for 
addressing the serious health and environmental problems which confront 
this vital region of our country. I urge support for the legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1225. The unique demographics of 
the border region warrant the establishment of this commission to study 
the problems and make recommendations for solutions.
  I do want to point out, however, that establishment of the commission 
should not preclude a continuing discussion on who should be 
responsible for paying the cost of providing emergency care services, 
as mandated by OBRA 86, to undocumented aliens. As we all know, many 
States are being overwhelmed by the expenses of providing care to 
undocumented aliens. I feel very strongly that the congressional debate 
on this issue must continue.
  I am very pleased, however, that the chairman of the subcommittee and 
I have the same understanding of the legislation. At the subcommittee 
markup we engaged in a colloquy and agreed about the interpretation of 
the provision which refers to citizens who are, ``Unable, through 
insurance or otherwise, to pay for the service.'' Under Medicaid law, 
the State and Federal Governments, through Medicaid, pay hospitals for 
emergency services delivered to illegal aliens who are otherwise 
eligible for Medicaid. We clarified that it is the committee's intent 
that illegal aliens who receive emergency care and who have that care 
paid for by Medicaid are not to be considered able to pay through 
insurance or otherwise. We would therefore expect the commission to 
make recommendations for the reimbursement of the United States by 
Mexico for the costs of emergency services provided to citizens of 
Mexico in cases where those services are currently paid for by 
Medicaid, as well as in cases where services are not paid for by 
Medicaid.
  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. MOORHEAD. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me.
  Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to have a vote on this 
particular piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I like the idea of the 
commission, except wherein it might be misinterpreted that somehow it 
is an implicit endorsement of illegal immigrants receiving medical 
services, and I know the gentleman has had a colloquy with the 
chairman, and that that was established, apparently, in the committee 
through the colloquy that that is not the intent of this legislation.
  Nonetheless, Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that having the 
commission will not in any way implicitly say that we do not need to 
have a strong border, a strong international border; that we do not 
have a right as a nation to deny welfare benefits, including health 
benefits, to those people who enter the country illegally. That is a 
strong message that we are sending out right now.
  Mr. Speaker, Operation Gatekeeper is taking place in San Diego, CA. 
The El Paso blockage is presently in effect. Incidentally, there are 
some very good things happening as a result of having increased 
strength on the border. One thing I notice is that the rate of auto 
thefts went down 50 percent in 1 night in El Paso, because they now 
have strengthened the border with more Border Patrolmen. I think we are 
going to have other salutary effects of the same nature in San Diego.
  Mr. Speaker, I just do not want to be sending the message by a vote 
from this Congress that somehow we disagree with the idea that we need 
to have a strong border, and that we have a right to deny welfare 
benefits paid for by American taxpayers to illegal immigrants.
  If this commission is being put forth in that light, Mr. Speaker, 
that is, that it is not an implicit endorsement of illegal immigration 
or some desire to marry the populations on both sides of the border and 
pay for them out of the same Uncle Sam's taxpayer dollars, then I think 
it is important to have that message, and I think we can pass this 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I do think we should have a vote on this.
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Waxman] to respond.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to respond to the gentleman. His 
question does not deal with the questions of immigration, legal or 
illegal. It simply deals with the health problems of border areas, and 
asks for a convening of those people involved in health matters to look 
at the problems in that region.
  However, it would not in any way seek to address those immigration 
questions that the gentleman has raised.
  Mr. HUNTER. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman would continue to yield, I 
know the gentleman from California [Mr. Packard] may have a question, 
too. Those of us who have districts on the border, the message to 
citizens of Mexico who live south of the border often is that health 
care is available in the United States. Everybody knows about that. 
Thousands of people come to the United States side to have their babies 
and to get operations. Whenever they have a more severe medical 
procedure, one that taxes the abilities of the doctors in Mexico, they 
feel that the United States is a place to go.

                              {time}  1730

  I do not think the people are going to look at this commission and 
have no opinion on it. One message that I initially got was that the 
impression would be that somehow we are going to set up a border health 
commission that is going to deal naturally with the expenditures 
generally of American taxpayer dollars and that somehow we are going to 
be providing services for people who want to come across to avail 
themselves of those services.
  The gentleman has had a colloquy with the gentleman from California 
[Mr. Moorhead] in subcommittee, that is not the case, and I appreciate 
him saying that on the House floor.
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Was my statement of our colloquy correct?
  Mr. WAXMAN. If the gentleman will yield, yes, the gentleman is 
correct. We did have a colloquy in committee. We have clarified this 
matter. We can allay the gentleman's concerns.
  Mr. HUNTER. If the gentleman would continue to yield, the reason I 
have asked this question is simply this. We are expending a ton of 
taxpayer dollars now with roads, lights, fences, and more border 
patrolmen on the border. We are trying to send a strong message to 
those who would enter the country illegally: ``We have a right to 
protect our border and we have a right to ask you to use the front door 
to enter legally if you want to come into the United States.''
  I just do not want to have this commission be a contrary message that 
says somehow if you do come across, we are going to put together 
another tier of health care that will be available for you. We have 
been sending inconsistent messages to people for years: ``Don't come 
across the border but if you do, we'll hire you when you get up here.'' 
I do not want that to be replaced with a message that says, ``Don't 
come across the border but we're going to have a new health care plan 
in effect when you get here.''
  I know it is not the gentleman's intent to send that message, but I 
think it is important to lay that out on the House floor so nobody gets 
the wrong impression of what we are doing here.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman from California who has the 
time would yield to me further, I do not think this bill gives any 
incentive to come across the border for anything other than to 
participate in this particular conference or council. Certainly 
whatever incentives there are now for them to come across for services 
are there and that is an issue we need to deal with in another context.
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Packard].
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, if I could enter into a colloquy if I may 
with the chairman.
  The gentleman indicates that there is no intent for the commission to 
participate in providing health care for either illegal or legal 
residents, is that correct?
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman will yield, that is 
correct.
  Mr. PACKARD. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. WAXMAN. They are simply to study the health problems. There is 
nothing they will do other than to study it and to give recommendations 
to look at the health problems in these border areas, some of which are 
primarily due to the communicable disease rates in these communities 
and the poverty of the populations on both sides of the border.
  Mr. PACKARD. How is the commission to be funded and how much is the 
cost to the taxpayers do you estimate.
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, let me read if I might for my colleague, 
the gentleman from California [Mr. Packard] the duties of the 
commission, first, is to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment in 
the United States-Mexico border area for the purpose of identifying, 
evaluating, preventing health problems and potential health problems 
that affect the general population of the area; second, to implement 
the actions recommended by the needs assessments through assisting in 
the coordination and implementation of the efforts of public and 
private entities to prevent and resolve such health problems and, B, 
assisting in the coordination and implementations of efforts of public 
and private entities to educate such population concerning such health 
problems; and third, formulate recommendations to the governments of 
the United States and Mexico concerning a fair and reasonable method by 
which the government of one country could reimburse a public or private 
entity in the other country for the cost of a health care service that 
the entity furnishes to a citizen of the first country who is unable 
through insurance or otherwise to pay for the service.
  The point being that what we would do with this commission is help 
resolve the very problems that the gentleman from San Diego as is the 
gentleman from El Paso is concerned about. This is exactly the way we 
are going to begin attacking the problem of not utilizing U.S. taxpayer 
money to provide health care.
  The legislation passed by the Senate which is the bill we are 
considering, S. 1225, speaks to those issues very clearly and I would 
urge my colleagues to get a copy and read exactly what this is all 
about.
  The legislation passed by the Senate which is the bill we are 
considering, S. 1225, speaks to those issues very clearly and I would 
urge my colleagues to get a copy and read exactly what this is all 
about.
  The gentleman and I know that disease does not recognize a border and 
since it does not, we know that we are not going to resolve health care 
problems in Chicago, Illinois; or Los Angeles, or New York, or Kansas 
City or anywhere else in America if we do not have a plan of action to 
deal with the high rates of tuberculosis and typhoid, the high rates of 
hepatitis along the United States-Mexico border.
  What we are trying to do here is what all of the state public health 
officials have said from California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, is 
we need to be able to quantify the problem so that we know best how to 
deal with it from a public sector health care point of view. That is 
what this commission is all about.
  It will be very similar, I think, to the kind of cooperative effort 
that we have utilized in the International Boundary and Water 
Commission. That is the real goal of this legislation.
  I hope that people are not fearful that we are going to be sending 
signals because that is not what we are going to do with this bill. 
What we are going to do with this bill is begin to attack a very real 
problem that affects the school districts in the gentleman from San 
Diego's district as well as mine.
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in response to a question that was asked earlier, there 
is an authorized expenditure in this bill and the CBO estimates there 
will be no cost.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, If the gentleman will yield to me, that is a 
correct statement.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. We appreciate 
the cooperation of our colleagues on the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
which had joint jurisdiction with us over this legislation. The 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], the chairman; and the gentleman 
from New York [Mr. Gilman], the ranking Republican member, graciously 
agreed to expedite consideration of this bill on the floor without 
requiring action in their committee.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is the product of years of work by our 
colleague, the gentleman from Texas [Mr.Coleman]. He has worked 
diligently on this matter to allay all the concerns that have been 
raised and to introduce this highly constructure proposal which will 
lead us to a way to deal with sanitation and public health problems in 
the border regions.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield whatever time he may consume to the gentleman 
from Texas [Mr. Coleman], the author of the legislation which our 
committee has voted unanimously to present to the House for its 
consideration.
  (Mr. COLEMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas 
[Mr. de la Garza] for his coauthorship of this legislation at its 
inception.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1225, the United States-
Mexico Border Health Commission.
  I also would like to thank my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce 
Committee for reporting this legislation. I appreciate the leadership 
shown by Chairman Dingell and ranking minority member, Mr. Moorhead, as 
well as the Health subcommittee chairman, Henry Waxman and ranking 
member, Thomas Bliley. I would also like to thank their very able 
staffs for all of their assistance, I understand that they have been 
extremely helpful during this process. I would be remiss if I were not 
to mention the assistance we received from the Foreign Affairs full 
committee members and staff in bringing this legislation to the floor. 
Chairman Lee Hamilton and ranking member Benjamin Gilman, as well as 
the Western Hemisphere Affairs Subcommittee chairman Robert Toricelli 
and ranking member Chris Smith were all very supportive of our efforts 
and I thank them for their cooperation.
  This legislation has been a high priority of mine for the entire 12 
years that I have been in Congress. This landmark legislation will not 
only create a financial commission specifically focused on all public 
health issues of concern to the United States-Mexico border, but it 
will be given the authority to formulate and implement ways in which to 
address the problems in existence along our southwestern border. These 
are public health problems that do not remain at the border. In 1991, 
for example, there was a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections 
in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Ontario, Newfoundland, 
Quebec, and Saskatchewan. This outbreak was traced to the consumption 
of produce from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. Another 
example of an illness making its way north took place in 1988-90, when 
mosquito-transmitted malaria cases in California and Florida were 
traced to parasitemic migrant farm workers from Mexico and Central 
America that were bitten by the same mosquitoes.
  During the course of our discussions on health care reform, the issue 
of providing health care services to undocumented immigrants has been 
quite contentious. This legislation would include among the issues to 
be addressed by the commission, ways to pay for uncompensated care 
provided on both sides of the border. This would be an important step 
forward in addressing some of the concerns that have resulted in the 
States' frustrated attempts to sue the Federal Government to reimburse 
them for uncompensated care provided to undocumented persons.
  These issues directly affect my district in El Paso, TX. We all 
realize the need for this legislation. In fact, S. 1225 enjoys broad 
support from the border state governments, medical associations and 
health officials, along with strong bipartisan support. I urge its 
speedy passage.
  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
2305, the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission. This bill is 
vital for addressing the rapidly deteriorating health conditions which 
have transformed the 2,000 mile border region into an environment 
conducive to the spread of disease.
  This bill would ask President Clinton to reach an agreement with 
President Zedillo of Mexico to establish a binational commission on 
border health. This would bring together Mexican and American officials 
from various agencies to coordinate disease-prevention and immunization 
efforts on both sides of the border.
  This health Commission will help disseminate advice on treatment as 
well as provide early warning of outbreaks. The commission should come 
up with a plan to cut through much of the redtape that hamstrings joint 
efforts.
  We must not forget that the mission of public health entities is to 
protect and promote health, and prevent disease and injury. Public 
health services are population based--that is services which are 
focused on improving the health status of entire communities, rather 
than the treatment of individuals. We recognize that the people on both 
sides of the border are all in this together and a unilateral approach 
is not an effective approach to these health problems.
  This commission will take a comprehensive approach to a wide array of 
border health issues. The Commission will put together a specific 
workable action plan based on the needs of border residents.
  To understand why this commission is long overdue you need to only 
look at the facts:
  More than 9.2 million people are crowded into cities and towns on 
either side of the invisible line dividing the United States and 
Mexico.
  The border population represents about 9 percent of Texas residents 
and they earn the lowest income in the State. Four of the poorest 
cities in America are along the Texas-Mexico border. Both sides of the 
border are under serious strain to provide potable water, sewage, 
disposal, electricity, and health facilities.
  The Rio Grande is one of the top ten most polluted rivers in the U.S. 
In fact, health officials warn residents in El Paso and Laredo not to 
swim in the river. At some places in the river, the fecal bacteria 
count is 22,000 per milliliter. Unfortunately, this year two children 
who swam in the Rio Grande contracted an amoeba and died.
  From early spring to late fall each year, farmworkers from the Rio 
Grande area travel to States like California, Oregon, Florida, and 
Michigan. They return to the region late each fall. As a result, health 
problems spread beyond the border as farmworkers and regional produce 
make their way northward.
  Recent health epidemics linked to the Rio Grande region include: 
salmonella in 23 States and Canada; a measles epidemic in Washington 
State; and a malaria outbreak in Florida.
  Added to the problem is the living conditions in the colonias which 
are harsh enough to be considered life threatening: there is 
contaminated water, and no electricity, sewer systems, garbage 
collection or waterlines. These colonias are a perfect breeding ground 
for infectious diseases not seen in other parts of the United States.
  I am optimistic that this commission will lead to the establishment 
of a border laboratory to protect the public health of communities on 
the United States-Mexico border by analyzing human wildlife, air, 
water, and soil samples, and to serve as a resource to border State 
public health agencies.
  A United States-Mexico border health laboratory would aid border 
areas that have a high incidence of infectious and communicable 
diseases. Health conditions are often linked to environmental 
conditions. By addressing environmental concerns along the border, this 
laboratory could provide analysis beneficial to public health on an 
international scope.
  Four States: California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, face 
increased demands for expanded disease and environmental surveillance, 
monitoring, and regulation, an infrastructure breakdown along the 
border has resulted in a disproportionate higher incidence of many 
infectious and communicable diseases. The border region has had 
outbreaks of dysentery, cholera, hepatitis, tuberculosis, malaria, 
leprosy, and rabies. In fact, U.S. cities along the 2,000 mile border 
from Brownsville to San Diego have twice the number of hepatitis A 
cases as those reported in the other cities nationwide.
  It is essential that these four States have state-of-the-art 
facilities to successfully intervene and diagnose the severe health 
problems along our country's border with Mexico.
  Unfortunately, along the United States-Mexico border, the supply of 
laboratories capable of providing sophisticated, highly complex 
laboratory analyses of air, water, and soil, as well as human and 
animal biologic samples, is very limited and far from capable of 
meeting the current and anticipated demand.
  With appropriate resources, these labs will be able to create a line 
of evidence on how environmental pollution affects human health, 
thereby reducing or eliminating future health risks.
  It is envisioned that this border environmental laboratory will be 
funded jointly by the Centers for Disease Control [CDC], the 
Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], and the Food and Drug 
Administration [FDA] to assist in supplying the critically needed 
analytical services.
  As a member on the Appropriations Committee and a member of the 
subcommittee that controls CDC's budget, I pledge to provide the 
necessary funds to create this lab and hopefully expand the program to 
include a fleet of highly sophisticated mobile environmental 
laboratories stationed at strategic locations along the United States-
Mexico border.
  I wish I could give Congress credit for the idea of this border lab. 
However, this idea came from Texas to Congress. I would like to applaud 
the hard work and determination of Dr. David Smith, Commissioner of 
Health, from the Texas Department of Health and Dr. Laurance Nickey, El 
Paso health director, for developing these ideas and educating 
policymakers on their importance. Senator Kay Hutchison has worked hard 
to include a similar provision in the Senate version of the bill, S. 
1569. I would also like to thank Congressmen Richardson, Ortiz, 
Serrano, Pastor, and Coleman for working with Chairman Waxman to 
educate the Congress on the specific needs in the Hispanic community 
and I pledge to work with them on the Appropriations Committee to 
adequately fund research and education programs for our border 
communities.
  Ms. SCHENK. Mr. Speaker, I rise as an original cosponsor of H.R. 2305 
to urge my colleagues to support its passage.
  H.R. 2305 authorizes the President to conclude an agreement with the 
Government of Mexico to establish a binational border health 
commission. This legislation is entirely consistent with the spirit of 
cooperation between our two nations in the implementation of NAFTA.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States shares a 2,000 mile border with 
Mexico, but in San Diego we know that disease knows no borders. 
Frequent crossborder migration--both legal and illegal--means that 
Mexico's health problems are our health problems.
  The border areas in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and California are 
notorious for high incidences of infections and communicable disease, 
including tuberculosis, hepatitis and typhus. These health problems are 
exacerbated, and in some instances created by environmental hazards--
severe air and groundwater pollution, open landfills, and raw sewage 
which flows north from Tijuana to the beaches of my district.
  To this point, however, we have paid scant attention to this public 
health crisis. With the passage of NAFTA, however, it is my hope that 
we can begin to build a real public health infrastructure at the 
border. Prevention at the border would save lives and help reduce the 
enormous burden of uncompensated care on U.S. hospitals.
  A United States-Mexico Border Health Commission will help focus the 
scarce public health resources of both nations on preventing disease at 
the border. I urge strong support for this legislation, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1740

  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. de la Garza). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Waxman] that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1225.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. MOORHEAD. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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