[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11168]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 SUPPORTING MEASURE PROVIDING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS

  (Mr. FOLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am here to strongly support a bill 
introduced by my colleagues, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-
Balart) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), among 
others, that would allow us to provide health care coverage for legal 
immigrants of the United States.
  Let me be very specific. My colleague, the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Diaz-Balart), will speak a little more on this subject. What we 
have to make certain of is that everybody is provided good quality 
health care.
  Yesterday a report was issued that included the fact that if folic 
acid was administered to pregnant women early in their pregnancies, the 
likelihood of a healthy delivery and a healthy baby would result. The 
March of Dimes and others strongly support this initiative to make 
certain that we provide the health care for women early in their 
pregnancies and then after, once the baby has been delivered.
  Let us not be penny-wise and pound foolish. The money we think we are 
saving will evaporate in excess spending if a child is born with a 
disability, so let us make certain we strongly support this initiative. 
It is being supported by Senator Graham of Florida on the Senate side, 
and I know my colleague is going to talk about it in greater detail.
  I am thrilled and delighted to be part of this effort. Today is World 
Refugee Day, and I think this is a fitting tribute to this day, to make 
certain legal immigrants are covered.

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