[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H6620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
  U.S. HEALTH POLICY DENIES EQUAL FUNDING FOR U.S. CITIZENS OF PUERTO 
                                  RICO

  (Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak to the $24 billion 
children's health initiative contained in the budget reconciliation 
agreement. The President has stated that this is a victory for every 
child in a poor household who needs health care. Unfortunately, there 
is no victory celebration by the children in Puerto Rico and the other 
territories.
  This initiative extends to the children living in the territories an 
egregious United States national policy which views the lives and 
health of United States citizens in Puerto Rico and the other 
territories as far less valuable than the lives and health of those 
residing in the States.
  Puerto Rico's participation in the children's health care program is 
less than one-seventh of what it would receive under the standards 
established for the States. There is one and only one reason for this 
treatment: The United States citizens residing in the territories have 
no voting representation in Washington, DC, and, therefore, no viable 
means of defending themselves against such unjust treatment.
  It is already unjust that U.S. national health policies deny equal 
funding for adult United States citizens of Puerto Rico and other 
territories. However, it is absolutely outrageous that the United 
States would endorse a discriminatory policy denying equal health care 
to the children of the United States citizens residing in Puerto Rico 
and the other territories.

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