Speech #920245808

Mr. President. I am pleased to join the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts in sponsoring legislation to extend the Migrant Health Act for 5 years. and authorize increased appropriationsto meet the great health care need of this segment of our population. .As chairman of the Migratory Labor Subcommittee. I know firsthand of the need for this program. It is regrettable but true that the conditions under which farmworkers live continue to create health problems which require special attention. The programs funded under the Migrant Health Act provide that attention and therefore must be continued. Today. as in the past. migrant and seasonal farmworkers -and their families are poor and often unable or ineligible to participate in community health resources even if available. They are therefore most likely to be bypassed by national health gains. A categorical health program directed to their specific needs is essential. " Today.-as in the past. the migrants access to health care programs including medicaid. medicare. food stamps and commodities. and private sector health services is difficult at best. Constant mobility makes continuity of services difficult. the temporary nature of their work makes migrants transients for whom communities feel no responsibility. and rural areas frequently lack sufficient health. professional and physical facilities to meet the needs of local residents. let alone the needs of people that are not permanent residents. Today. as in the past.. farmworkers. because of inadequate health care. are burdened with illness and disability. victimized by a high incidence of infectious diseases. infant mortality. malnutrition. and other health deficiencies unsurpassed in any other sector of the population. Tuberculosis is 17 times more frequent and infestation with worms 35 times more frequent among migrants than among most patients. Infant mortality and death from tuberculosis and infectious diseases is 21/2 times the national average. Mortality from accidents is nearly three times the national average. Epidemics of polio have occurred in areas of high concentration of migrants. nutritional disease is common. extreme obesity due to a carbohydrate diet is common. significant protein malnutrition persists. and ostitis in children and degenerative disease in older individuals is common. Dental problems abound. speech. hearing. and vision defects are common. mental and emotional disorders are widespread. and intestinal parasitism. diabetes. thyroid. and degenerative heart diseases are common among farmworkers. The Migrant Health Act. first passed in 1962. authorizes a program effort to meet these problems. It permits grants to pay part of the costs of .family health service clinics and special projects to improve health services. The initial funding level of $750.000 has now been increased to an authorized $30.000.000 for fiscal year 1973. With these funds an effort is made to serve over 1.000.000 migrants and their dependents. and over 5.000.000 seasonal workers and their dependents. One hundred and seventeen single and multicounty health projects assist farmworkers in 317 counties in 36 States. One hundred and seventy hospitals and 1.000 physicians are involved. Additionally. pursuant to amendments proposed in 1970 by Senator MONDALE. formerly chairman of the Migratory Labor Subcommittee that require farmworker participation in the development and implementation of programs. five community health projects providing comprehensive ambulatory health care to migrant and seasonal farmworkers in medically undeserved rural areas were implemented. These consumercontrolled projects are among the best examples of effective programs to meet farmworker needs. Despite thesegains. the migrant health program falls short of. meeting all the needs of -this segment of the population.At present family clinics are overcrowded with patients during the harvest season. 600 counties continue to lack a system of health care for.migrant workers. The fiscal year 1971 appropriation of just under $25 million provides about $2.50 of care per migrant. and $5 per seasonal farmworker. These shortcomings arecorrected by the extension and expansion which this legislation would authorize. By extendJune .28. 1972 ing the program for 5 years. the bill avoids the uncertainties attendant in a shortterm program authorization.