[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 19, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   UNDOCUMENTED ALIEN EMERGENCY MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AMENDMENTS OF 2004

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 17, 2004

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3722, 
which I believe poses a significant threat to the health of all 
Americans. If H.R. 3722 is enacted, the fear of deportation will 
inevitably discourage undocumented immigrants from seeking care for 
potentially communicable diseases. As a result, serious health problems 
will likely go untreated and unreported with serious negative 
consequences to the health of entire communities.
  In addition, numerous hospital and local government organizations 
have told Congress that the reporting and record keeping requirements 
included in H.R. 3722 will not only place a serious administrative 
burden on already overburdened hospitals, but also harm the 
relationship of trust between health care providers and their patients. 
This will undermine health care providers' basic and vital mission--
tending the sick and injured. I would like to include in the Record a 
letter in opposition to H.R. 3722 I received from El Centro, an 
organization in my district dedicated to family improvement.
  Like many of my colleagues, I am dedicated to continuing to seek 
solutions to the challenges we face in our immigration policy. I have 
supported multiple efforts to strengthen our immigration and border 
patrol systems. I do not believe, however, that denying emergency 
health care to those critically in need is consistent with the 
successful curbing of illegal immigration.


                                              El Centro, Inc.,

                                     Kansas City, KS, May 7, 2004.
     Congressman Dennis Moore,
     Cannon House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Congressman Moore: El Centro, Inc. sincerely hopes that you 
     will oppose Representative Dana Rohrabacher's (R-CA) extreme 
     bill threatening access to emergency health care for 
     undocumented immigrants and, we fear, for many U.S. citizens 
     living in immigrant families and communities.
       Among its provisions, H.R. 3722, the Undocumented Alien 
     Emergency Medical Assistance Amendments of 2004, would deny 
     hospitals and other health care providers reimbursement for 
     uncompensated emergency care they provide to undocumented 
     immigrants unless they report those immigrants to the 
     Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a practical matter, 
     this would oblige providers to verify the immigration status 
     of all uninsured patients presenting health care emergencies. 
     The information health care providers would be required to 
     transmit to DHS would include their patients' financial data, 
     identity of employer, and biometric information.
       H.R. 3722 would also narrow the scope of emergency health 
     services available to undocumented persons and make inability 
     to pay medical expenses a basis for removal from the U.S. 
     Employers of undocumented workers whose medical expenses are 
     reimbursed by the federal government would be required to 
     repay the government for those costs.
       This proposal would jeopardize the health of immigrants and 
     the general public. The threat of separation from their 
     communities and families would deter immigrants and their 
     family members from seeking needed health services, including 
     testing and treatment for communicable diseases. Overburdened 
     emergency health care providers would be forced to verify the 
     immigration status of emergency patients, and report those 
     believed to be undocumented to immigration authorities, in 
     conflict with patient privacy rights and the fundamental 
     principle that they refrain from harming their patients. The 
     bill would impose additional burdens on employers, including 
     small businesses, who already are required to verify the 
     citizenship and immigration status of workers. It also would 
     increase the likelihood of discrimination against persons 
     assumed to ``appear foreign'' because of their race, accent 
     or other prohibited factors.
       Though Rep. Rohrabacher's intentions may be to contain 
     emergency health cost and the flow of undocumented immigrants 
     via this proposal, this is certainly not the way to do it. In 
     fact, we believe the only possible outcome of the proposal is 
     the creation of a disastrous and costly public health 
     scenario. We ask that you oppose attempts to move this 
     proposal forward.
           Most sincerely,
                                                 Melinda K. Lewis,
     Director of Policy Advocacy and Research.

                          ____________________