Speech #870011147

I shall welcome further discussion on the part of my friend from Florida. I am grateful for his participation in this discussion. HEALTH In health. too. we find an equally serious situation. again because the constant interstate movement of these migrant families places them outside of those services available to other citizens. Even though the conditions under which they work and live are such that their needs for medical care are generally greater than normal. and even though their poor health conditions frequently pose a real health hazard to communities through which they travel. their health needs are far from being met. In Hale County. Tex.. a vast immunization program is currently in progress to bring under control an epidemic of diphtheria which was set off by seven cases among families identified as migrants. A February 1961 report to the Public Health Service indicated that the number of cases has now risen to 72. of which 29 are among families in migrant labor housing. and 43 are among permanent residents. As we discuss this matter on the Senate floor today. the 37.000 residents of Hale County are fighting an expensive battle against this contagious diseasea disease to which they were needlessly and unnecessarily exposed. Similar situations have occurred in the past and will continue to occur until we make available to migrant farmworkers the simple type of preventive medical care considered standard and necessary for most of our other citizens. We know they will continue to occur. but the fact of the matter is that recent studies show no increase in preventive health treatment for migrants. A 1957 report of the health of migrants in Idaho indicated that "practically none" of the children had received any immunization against diphtheria. whooping cough. and tetanus. Similar findings are reported from Texas. Illinois. and California. These poor health conditions among migrant families produce not only physical pain for themselves. they produce fiscal pain. toofiscal pain and damage to the communities which they visit. In May of 1960. John M.