[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 18, 2004)]
[House]
[Page H3098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REPORT ILLEGAL ALIENS

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, last year illegal aliens cost 
taxpayers more than $1 billion in hospital costs.
  I support H.R. 3722, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Rohrabacher), which requires hospitals to report the immigration status 
of the individuals they treat. This bill also makes employers 
responsible for these medical costs if they employ the illegal alien.
  Hospitals already collect information from patients. Reporting 
immigration status as a condition for receiving Federal funds is not 
overly burdensome.
  We cannot afford to ignore the growing costs associated with illegal 
immigration. In my home State of Texas, health care for illegal 
immigrants costs taxpayers at least $170 million every year.
  If we are serious about reducing illegal immigration, we need to 
support this legislation.

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