[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004

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                               speech of

                             HON. JIM KOLBE

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2800) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2004, and for other purposes:

  Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate Congressman Hayworth's concern 
on the issue of medical care for undocumented aliens. He and I are both 
from Arizona. We know very well the concerns of our state.
  Together, we are actively working to get the federal government to 
compensate state and local governments along the border for the costs 
resulting from illegal immigration or undocumented entries along the 
border. There is currently no federal or state policy to reimburse 
medical care providers for their treatment of illegal immigrants not in 
custody or who do not possess proof of residency in Arizona. During the 
past six years, Arizona has experienced a drastic surge in illegal 
immigration due to recent policy of sealing off Texas and California 
borders. Therefore, Arizona hospitals and ambulance service providers 
have had to shoulder an increasingly harsh economic burden.
  If we fail to act quickly, our hospitals will go bankrupt leaving the 
citizens in many areas of Arizona without access to medical care.
  Just this week, I introduced H.R. 2807, The Border Hospital Survival 
and Illegal Immigrant Care Act. This legislation aims to address the 
shortcomings created by Immigration and Naturalization Service policy 
instructing the Border Patrol to not apprehend illegal immigrants 
injured in the process of crossing the border thereby avoiding 
financial responsibility.
  It is a bipartisan effort being supported by several Republicans and 
Democrats across the border region, including Representatives Reyes, 
Filner, Pastor, Renzi, and Grijalva.
  I know the intent of Congressman Hayworth's floor amendment to the 
Foreign Operations appropriations bill is to get greater Mexican 
attention and resources on this issue. I think that is appropriate.
  There is an innovative pilot project underway that may actually yield 
commitment on a larger scale from the Mexican government on these 
issues.
  Just recently USAID contributed resources to establish a triage and 
stabilization unit at the General Hospital in Nogales, Sonora located 
in Mexico just across from Nogales, Arizona.
  This unit would seek to take care of most emergency medical needs of 
Mexican citizens on the Mexican side of the border in Nogales, Sonora. 
I encouraged and supported this leadership by USAID and the U.S. 
government.
  In the spirit of public private partnerships, its funding composition 
has several components:
  $350,000 from USAID/Mexico and a USAID Global Health agreement with 
EngenderHealth, a U.S. NGO,
  Nearly $200,000 of cost-sharing support from Arizona partner 
organizations, principally the USAID grantee, Tucson's University 
Medical Center Foundation,
  2,000,000 pesos from Mexican Federal and State Government, and
  1,000,000 pesos from local Mexican business association.
  I recognize the goal of Congressman Hayworth and I appreciate his 
willingness to withdraw the floor amendment to the Foreign Operations 
appropriations bill.
  As I continue to work on this issue, I would propose that he and I 
work together to bring greater focus to this important issue.
  Cooperation in support of Mexico's economic and social development 
and its consolidation of democratic institutions and practices ranks 
high in the range of U.S. policy interests. This national interest of 
the U.S. mirrors what is in our intense local Arizona interest.
  I plan to work with the distinguished Member of Arizona on this 
issue. In the near future, I hope you can consider co-sponsoring H.R. 
2807, The Border Hospital Survival and Illegal Immigrant Care Act.

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