Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of the motion to instruct the conferees on H.R. 4 to agree to accept section 2011 of the Senate bill dealing with the immigration of individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. As an original cosponsor of H.R. 985 which continues the policy currently in place to exclude immigrants infected with HIV. I feel very strongly that this provision should be included in this legislation. H.R. 4 is an ideal vehicle for inclusion of this provision because we know that it will be signed by President Clinton. This ban has been in place since 1987 and has prevented a potential influx of aliens infected with the HIV virus from burdening our already overloaded health care system and putting Americans at risk. The standard under the Immigration Act for which an alien may be denied permanent immigration status is if they have a communicable disease of public health significance. Currently. there are eight diseases on the list. including HIV. leprosy. syphilis. and infectious tuberculosis. The Clinton administration is proposing removing HIV from the list of diseases because it is not easily communicable. That. however. is not the standard of the Immigration Act. The disease is communicable and. when considered with the facts that it is always fatal and that costs for treatment exceed $100.000 per patient. it clearly is significant to the public health of this Nation. Mr.
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