Speech #920235476

Chairman. I feel there is a need to increase the health delivery appropriation by $6.25 million. The purpose of this Increase is to Increase the fund for the Migrant Health Act from $23.75 million to the authorized level of $30 million. I suggest this increase. Mr. Chairman. because I believe the health needs of over 1 million migrant farmworkers have been neglected for too long. or have been underfunded. Texas has the largest number of migrant health projects in the Nation with 21. two of which are located in my district in Austin and San Marcos. However. these projects have not as yet been able to fully meet the needs of the estimated 280.000 migrant workers who call Texas home. I am deeply concerned about the plans of the Public Health Service to phase out its program of hospitalization coverage for migrants because the funds available are inadequate. In light of the plight of the migrant worker this action would be a sad step indeed. Generally. the man and his family who follow the crops rarely receive adequate health care. He is seldom eligible for local programs and when he is. his work usually takes him to isolated areas that do not have adequate facilities or programs. According to the U.S. Public Health Service at least twothirds of all migrants are totally unaware of any of the handful of special programs designed for them. Most importantly. the migrants working and living conditions make him highly vulnerable to a wide range of diseases. His life expectancy is 20 years shorter than the average citizens. His infant and maternal mortality rate is 125 percent higher than the national average while his death rate from influenza and pneumonia is 200 percent higher than the national rate. He or his family are 17 times more likely to suffer from tuberculosis and 35 times more likely to have worms. If he survives infancy and does not die 20 years before his time of pneumonia or tuberculosis. then he has a better chance than the average citizen of suffering from high blood pressure. diabetes. anemia. rickets. or a dozen other major diseases. If provision Is not made for adequate funding of the Public Health Services hospitalization program for migrants under this act. then the proposed policy will seriously reduce the amount of health service available to those who most severely need more helpnot less help. Because most welfare programs do not cover these families. a single serious illness requiring hospitalization can wipe out their life savings. Furthermore. the elimination of Federal assistance will place the financial burden of these services on local communities which often already are facing severe financial problems. At present the per capita health expenditures per migrant is less than $9 compared with a national average of $250 per person. Mr. Chairman. I think we can afford to appropriate these additional funds. I believe the time has come to end the migrants status as a forgotten and ignored man and to start trying to make some adequate provision for his health care needs.