Speech #910142107

This bill was reported unanimously by the committee. and would extend for 3 years the current program under which health services are provided to domestic agricultural migratory workers. This program has been in effect since 1962. and today covers approximately onethird of the approximately 1 million domestic agricultural migratory workers and their families. The health needs of agricultural migrants are among the greatest of any group in the United States. In general. these Americans. as a group. have abnormally high infant mortality rates. high rates of communicable disease. high accident rates. and. in general. more health problems than almost any other group. As they follow the crops through the United States. they go from one community to another. and since they are nonresidents. do not qualify for many health programs provided by local communities but limited to residents. In addition the health facilities available in many of these areas which depend on the labor of these migrants are relatively meager. This legislation is designed to fill the gap in health services for these people. by providing grants which. in general. cover about 40 percent of the costs of providing health services for these migrants and their families. Current law limits the services furnished to persons who are migrants. however this distinction turns out to be quite arbitrary in many cases since the status of a person as a migrant frequently shifts back and forth. The bill. therefore. expands coverage of the program somewhat to permit the furnishing of health services to persons who are seasonal agricultural workers if the furnishing of these services will contribute to the improvement of health conditions of migrants and their families. The bill authorizes a total of $55 million in appropriations over the next 3 fiscal years. and was supported by all witnesses at the hearings. The committee was unanimous in ordering the bill reported to the House. and we recommend its passage.