[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 81 (Friday, June 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   PAY UP: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, NOT HOSPITALS, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 
                              IMMIGRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 16, 2005

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, as California's Border Congressman, I am 
here to deliver some bad news and some good news about the health care 
providers in my district, the whole border region, and other parts of 
the country with large immigrant populations. The bad new is: they 
can't take it anymore!
  They can't take the Federal Government's continued failure to assume 
the responsibility for fixing our broken immigration system.
  They can't take the increasing cost of uncompensated emergency care 
for undocumented immigrants. The growing burden on hospitals, 
physicians and ambulance providers threatens to cripple the health care 
services that are available to all the residents of these communities.
  In San Diego, UCSD is planning to close down a hospital, partly 
because of the growing costs of treating undocumented immigrants. The 
solvency of other hospitals is increasingly endangered. Continued 
neglect threatens the very existence of many of these hospitals and the 
health of communities throughout the Nation.
  It's hard to blame the hospitals for their growing financial woes. 
Turning away uninsured, undocumented patients with medical emergencies 
would not only violate their moral and legal duties; it would endanger 
everyone's health by sending sick people back out into the community.
  Instead, it is the Federal Government who is to blame. The Federal 
Government is responsible for immigration and therefore must take 
responsibility for the costs imposed on hospitals by a broken 
immigration system
  As Congress continues to debate the best approach to reforming our 
immigration system, we must act now to shore up these hospitals and 
secure the health of communities throughout the country.
  So, along with the bad news, I am also here to deliver some good 
news: I have joined with Congressman Kolbe to introduce bi-partisan 
legislation, the Pay for All Your Undocumented Procedures (PAY UP!) Act 
(H.R. 2934), to require the Federal Government to reimburse health care 
providers for these costs.
  This legislation will bolster our hospitals and safeguard the health 
of both U.S. citizens and immigrants. I urge my colleagues to strongly 
support the PAY UP! Act.

                          ____________________