Speech #870205025

Mr. President. the fact that the health standards of the 20th century have bypassed our migrants is a source of shame for each one of us as Americans. If not our eating habits. at least our ethical sensibilities ought to be offended by the deplorable conditions under which our annual harvests are reaped. For every farm operator who does a conscientious job in providing migrant farm families with adequate sanitation facilities. there are many moreusually the marginal farmerswhose sanitation facilities are almost medieval. Migrant farm families live in makeshift shacks which manifest little. if any. concern for human health. safety. or decency. With ditch water being used for drinking. and with filthy. unsanitary privies serving 20 or more families. it is little wonder that our migrants involve one of the most serious health problems in the entire Nation. Among this group of laborers. the sicknesses and diseases of the past are the commonplace of the present. Tens of thousands of migrant children are living testimonials to the diseases fostered by the deplorable sanitation facilities provided them. If it is difficult for us to justify this reality. it is surely even more difficult for these migrant families to live it. Such sickness and disease are as unnecessary as they are avoidable. To continue to tolerate these unnecessary cripplers is to confute the great American theme that the past is prolog. The irony in the situation is that everyone is quick to acknowledge that these grim health conditions flourish among our migrants. that they critically need attention. and that something ought to be done. Despite this surge of sincere lamenting. there is little action. "Sure." says the wellmeaning farmer. "my privy facilities and water supply are in bad shape. Fact is.