Speech #1090047498

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Chairman. envision this: an undocumented immigrant suffers from severe chest pains and a nagging cough. Too frightened to seek out medical attention in the beginning. he lets this condition persist. He finds himself in the emergency room of the local hospital. The first order of business for the emergency physician or nurse is not to ask them where it hurts and do a physical exam to see if their life is in imminent danger. but to ask their immigration status and get a sworn statement to that effect. And if that patient cannot prove their legal status because they do not happen to have the documentation on them. that same doctor must make the choice not to provide care to this person or at least they must report them to immigration officials before providing lifesaving treatment. I ask you. in this universe. what kind of choice is that? There is no choice in asking a person to choose life or death.