[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2576-E2577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REJECT THE MEDICAID PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS IN THE HOUSE 
                     RECONCILIATION BILL, H.R. 4241

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOHN LEWIS

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, December 16, 2005

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong 
opposition to Section 3145 of the House reconciliation bill that will 
deny health care to our poorest Americans who desperately need and 
deserve it. This provision would require people who apply for Medicaid 
to prove that they are citizens, by producing a birth certificate or a 
passport. This may not sound like a difficult task to some, but the 
reality is much, much different.
  Many older Americans do not have birth certificates because their 
parents did not have access to hospitals, and so, they were born at 
home. This was true in rural America, and is still true in some places 
today. Also, in the last century, all over the south, because of 
segregation and racial discrimination, many hospitals would not take 
minorities. Many minorities, including African Americans, were born at 
home and don't have a birth certificate.
  These people were kept out of the health care system when they came 
into. the world. To keep these same people off of Medicaid

[[Page E2577]]

and further deny these men and women health care is yet another slap in 
the face. The health system failed these people once, and it should not 
fail them again.
  This rule is arbitrary. It is dangerous. And it is wrong.
  Even the Department of Health and Human Services agrees that it is 
unnecessary. There is no evidence that illegal immigrants are getting 
Medicaid illegally.
  This is very dangerous. If this becomes law, state and county 
officials will decide how to enforce this rule. Therefore, anyone with 
dark skin, or an accent or who looks like an undocumented immigrant 
will be at great risk for discrimination.
  American citizens, particularly the poor, minorities, and the very 
old, who are eligible for Medicaid, will be denied the health care that 
they need. All for a misguided attempt to keep undocumented immigrants 
from receiving health care. It is unjust and it is wrong. It is un-
American and I ask my colleagues to join me in opposing this provision.

                          ____________________