[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 4, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2719-E2720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              HEALTH CARE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 4, 2009

  Mr. BACA. Madam Speaker, as Members of Congress, it is our duty to 
pass real health care reform this year.
  Perhaps no state is in greater need of this reform than my home state 
of California.
  Two hundred seventeen thousand people in my Congressional District go 
everyday without reform.
  And for California as a whole--we have 13 million uninsured 
residents!
  The people of California, and people across the United States need 
health care reform that:
  Ends discrimination based on pre-existing conditions!
  Ends dropped healthcare coverage because you get sick!
  Ends co-pays for preventative care!
  And ends skyrocketing costs for individuals and families!
  The Republican alternative does none of these things!
  It simply keeps the status quo! It costs more! And does nothing!
  The 217,000 people living in my District without insurance cannot 
afford inaction any longer!
  The 13 million people in California without insurance cannot live 
with the status quo!
  The 15 hundred families in my District who went bankrupt because of 
health costs cannot afford the status quo!
  Now is our opportunity to make history--and to move America forward!
  We must not be short-sighted and focus only on politics and polls.
  As we work for health care reform, I also urge my colleagues to pass 
a bill that does not include costly and discriminatory verification 
requirements like the SAVE requirements.
  Our Nation cannot afford either the humanitarian or the fiscal costs 
of a health care immigration verification process.
  As a Christian--my faith teaches me that we must love our fellow man, 
and care for them as if they were our brother or sister.
  If a sick person is at the doctor's or the hospital--they need help!
  They do not have time to wait for a lengthy background check to 
determine their citizenship status.

[[Page E2720]]

  Can you imagine the medical errors we will have if we have to run an 
immigration status check every time someone who looks different needs 
medical care!
  This can lead to a dangerous precedent of racial profiling! People 
may be denied life-saving care simply because of how they look!
  From a fiscal perspective--numerous studies have shown us that 
immigration screenings cost our nation much more in tax dollars than 
they actually save.
  SAVE requirements would become unfunded mandates that add to the 
administrative cost burden of our States!
  In my home State of California--Los Angeles County spent $28 million 
in 2008 to implement tougher verification standards on the Medi-Cal 
program!
  I repeat--$28 million!!
  And how many undocumented immigrants did this $28 million help to 
catch actually using Medi-Cal benefits? Zero!!!
  Is this a cost-effective practice?! Or is this a burden on county 
governments?!
  A mandatory verification requirement in this health bill would only 
add to the current cost burden of emergency rooms!
  We should be working on policies that encourage people to go to 
clinics, where they can receive proper preventative and routine care.
  SAVE electronic verification would push more and more people into the 
emergency room--where all of us will be left to pick up the tab!
  Additional SAVE Program Verification also hinders access for the 
general public to health care.
  This has certainly been the case since states have been required to 
verify legal status for Medicaid.
  According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities--anywhere 
from 3 million to 5 million U.S. citizens have lost Medicaid coverage 
because they lacked the necessary paperwork (birth certificate or 
passport) to prove their citizenship.
  By introducing mandatory electronic verification procedures--we are 
creating additional hurdles for Americans to access the care they need!
  And what would be the cost in new liability suits?!
  And think of our current situation with H1N1. Families need access to 
care immediately--to stop the spread of further outbreaks!
  This would be chaos! It would burden our entire healthcare system 
with a costly and ineffective unfunded mandate.
  From both a humanitarian and a fiscal point of view--we cannot afford 
mandatory electronic verification.
  I am pleased the manager's amendment to this legislation does not 
include mandatory verification for people looking to access the health 
care exchange.
  I urge my colleagues to remain vigilant on this issue--and work to 
stop any mandatory electronic verification requirements.
  I am also pleased the larger bill includes the Indian Health Care 
Improvement Act.
  As a Member of the House Native American Caucus and the Natural 
Resources Committee--I have been a strong supporter of ending the 
health disparities that exist on our reservations.
  I will close my statement by again stressing the importance of this 
historic moment!
  We passed Social Security in 1935. We passed Medicare in 1965.
  I urge my colleagues to stand with the American people and pass 
legislation in 2009 that will make quality, affordable health care a 
right for all Americans!

                          ____________________