Speech #1040267338

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of the motion to recommit and against the conference report to immigration reform as it is currently written. It is with great regret that I do so. but I must in order to prevent a great injustice. a misuse of the House rules. and the enactment of a dangerous policy that threatens the health and safety of all people living in this country. not just immigrants. Mr. Speaker. I have been a long and strong proponent of illegal immigration reform ever since I have had the privilege to serve in Congress. During the 104th Congress. I have voted for this legislation in both the Judiciary Committee and on the House floor. I have done so because I believe we must do something to halt the flood of illegals that enter our country. inflate our welfare rolls. depress the wages of working Americans. and cause a great deal of crime and hardship in our Nation. However. the conference report to H.R. 2022. the Immigration in the National Interest Act. contains provisions that I find both shortsighted and narrow minded. These provisions would deny basic medical treatment to any ineligible and undocumented immigrant who is HIVpositive. this includes a legal immigrant who has had publicly financed medical treatment for more than 12 months. While the bill would allow the Department of Health and Human Services to do whatever is necessary to prevent the spread of all other communicable diseases. it expressly prohibits HHS from providing basic medical care and treatment to HIVpositive immigrants. Those legal immigrants who exceed the 12month limit will be automatically deported. These provisions were not included in either the House or the Senate versions of H.R. 2022. In fact. both Houses voted overwhelmingly to separate legal immigration reform from the bill earlier in the Congress and. instead. focus only on controlling illegal immigration. Mr. Speaker. current law already prohibits individuals who test positive for HIV and AIDS from immigrating to the United States. Therefore. this shortsighted and. I must say. discriminatory provision would only bar treatment for HIVpositive individuals who contracted the virus while in the United States.