Mr. Chairman. I should like to suggest that the Committee give some consideration to raising the 1971 budget request for migrant health funds under the Public Health Service Act from $15 million to the authorized figure of $20 million. My own State of Oregon Is suffering from lack of sufficient Federal or State money to care for the influx of up to 50.000 migrants a season. An additional $5 million is Insufficient In the face of the staggering health problems of these people. but it would provide some additional sources of health care which they do not have at present. The average life span of a migrant laborer is 49 years. the tuberculosis rate is 17 times that of the average American. the venereal disease rate is 18 times more than average. the infestation of worms is 35 times that of average. which is an indictment of our health care for these workers who are so vitally needed in our agricultural fields. Still another area of concern to Oregonians. which is funded through this subcommittee and is suffering as a result of federal cutbacks. is nursing education. While there has been an increasing demand on schools to turn out more physicians. nurses. and paramedical personnel. in Good Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center in Portland federal aid in 1969. including grants. loans. scholarships. decreased by 20% from the previous year.
Identified stereotypes
Migrant laborers have a shorter lifespan and higher rates of disease.