{"id":2428,"date":"2009-08-26T14:11:17","date_gmt":"2009-08-26T18:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thedustininmansociety.com\/blog\/?p=2428"},"modified":"2009-08-26T14:12:02","modified_gmt":"2009-08-26T18:12:02","slug":"congressional-research-service-illegal-aliens-can-receive-benefits-under-house-health-care-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedustininmansociety.org\/blog\/2009\/08\/26\/congressional-research-service-illegal-aliens-can-receive-benefits-under-house-health-care-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Congressional Research Service: Illegal Aliens Can Receive Benefits Under House Health Care Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

FAIR PRESS RELEASE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Congressional Research Service<\/a>: <\/em><\/p>\n

Illegal Aliens Can Receive Benefits Under House Health Care Bill<\/strong><\/p>\n

August 26, 2009<\/p>\n

\n (Washington, DC) Tuesday, the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the \u201cresearch arm\u201d for the United States Congress, issued a report validating an analysis by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), that illegal aliens would be able to receive benefits under the House health care reform bill, America\u2019s Affordable Health Care Act of 2009 (H.R. 3200). <\/p>\n

The report, Treatment of Noncitizens in H.R. 3200, states definitively, \u201cH.R. 3200 does not contain any restrictions on noncitizens \u2013 whether legally or illegally present, or in the United States temporarily or permanently \u2013 participating in the Exchange.\u201d H.R. 3200 establishes a Health Insurance Exchange which would provide individuals and small businesses with access to health care plans, including the \u201cpublic option\u201d to be managed by the government.<\/p>\n

CRS also confirms FAIR\u2019s assessment that the House bill does not include a mechanism to prevent illegal aliens from receiving \u201caffordability credits\u201d that would subsidize the purchase of private health insurance. CRS specifically noted the absence \u201cof a provision in the bill specifying the verification procedure.\u201d Because the language is ambiguous, all CRS could reasonably conclude is that any eligibility determination would be the responsibility of the Health Choices Commissioner. <\/p>\n

The CRS analysis comes after weeks of denials by Members of Congress that illegal aliens could receive benefits under the House bill. These denials were echoed by countless media and health care \u201cexperts\u201d who dismissed public concerns as myths, or as politically orchestrated attacks.<\/p>\n

\u201cCase closed. Illegal aliens will be eligible to participate in the health care program offered by the House bill unless Congress acts to amend the bill,\u201d stated Dan Stein, president of FAIR. \u201cThe loopholes and omissions in the House bill are not there by accident,\u201d continued Stein. \u201cThese loopholes were intended to extend benefits to illegal aliens while allowing Members of Congress to deny those facts to the American people.\u201d<\/p>\n

The House Ways & Means Committee had the opportunity to include language that would have barred illegal aliens from enrolling in the proposed public option or receiving the affordability credits, but chose not to. An amendment offered by Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) would have applied the same eligibility verification procedures for coverage under H.R. 3200 that have been used for years to prove eligibility for Medicaid. That amendment was rejected by a party-line vote.<\/p>\n

Based on its own findings and those of CRS, FAIR is calling on Congress to:<\/p>\n

Adopt clear language that makes illegal aliens (and nonimmigrants) ineligible for enrollment in publicly funded or subsidized health insurance programs.
\nRequire electronic eligibility verification for any health care reform proposal through the existing Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system.
\nMaintain a five-year eligibility waiting period for legal immigrants to ensure that individuals don\u2019t come to the U.S. and immediately tap the system. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor the past month, irate citizens, concerned that their tax dollars will be used to fund health care for illegal aliens, have been unfairly portrayed as uninformed rabble by their elected representatives and a host of media organizations,\u201d said Stein. \u201cIt is time for the politicians to close the loopholes, and for the media establishment to acknowledge that they got it wrong.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

About FAIR<\/p>\n

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country\u2019s largest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. <\/p>\n

Contact Ira Mehlman at 206-420-7733 <\/p>\n

Dustin Carnevale<\/p>\n

Communications Assistant<\/p>\n

Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.fairus.org<\/p>\n

Phone: (202)-328-7004<\/p>\n

Fax: (202)-387-3447<\/p>\n

Tweets by FAIRImmigration<\/a>