In 1990. Senators PAT MOYNIHAN. Congressman BARNEY FRANK. and I. and Senator KENNEDY. and many others. undertook to rewrite the statute on immigration exclusions in order to eliminate anachronistic provisions and to update the antiquated language of the law. One of the exclusions is health related. For generations now. our U.S. immigration laws have excluded from admission to the United States all persons who have contagious diseases that constitute a threat to the public health and welfare. The healthrelated exclusion is reasonable and necessary. Tuberculosis is once again reaching a serious level in our country. and many of our immigrants come from countries where tuberculosis is prevalent. Just last Saturday. the Washington Post reported that HIV infection rates are as high as 20 percent in some of the countries from which we receive large numbers of immigrants. I ask unanimous consent that the article be printed in the RECORD.
Identified stereotypes
Immigrants come from countries where tuberculosis is prevalent and may carry HIV.