Immigration Concerns Growing in Health Care Debate

Wednesday, August 26, 2009, 10:57 AM EST - posted on NumbersUSA

The debate on whether or not illegal aliens will receive benefits under the proposed health care plans is gaining momentum according to new reports. Some of the increased discussion stems from statements made by President Barack Obama during a radio interview last week where he reiterated his belief that the current House proposal doesn't extend benefits to illegal aliens, but he would be open to offering coverage in special cases.

"None of the bills that have been voted on in Congress, and none of the proposals coming out of the White House propose giving coverage to illegal immigrants – none of them," Obama said on Michael Smerconish’s radio show last week. "That has never been on the table; nobody has discussed it. So everybody who is listening out there, when you start hearing that somehow this is all designed to provide health insurance to illegal immigrants, that is simply not true and has never been the case."

"I think there is a basic standard of decency where if somebody is in a death situation or a severe illness, that we’re going to provide them emergency care," he said. "But nobody has talked about providing health insurance to illegal immigrants. I want to make that absolutely clear."

Two amendments proposed in the House that would require citizenship verification before receiving taxpayer-funded health care were defeated. Section 246 of H.R. 3200 prevents anyone in the country illegally from receiving benefits, but no verification mechanisms are in the bill. Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) and Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) both offered amendments to add verification, but both were defeated in committee.

For more information, read the blog written by Dr. James Edwards, who co-authored the book "The Congressional Politics of Immigration Reform," where he discusses the loopholes in H.R. 3200. Also, visit your Action Buffet for faxes to send to your Members of Congress and watch a panel discussion hosted by the Center for Immigration Studies discussing immigration and health care.