Brian Bilbray: “this afternoon we are hearing much talk about what is not in this bill and why they are finding excuses to vote against…”

“this afternoon we are hearing much talk about what is not in this bill and why they are finding excuses to vote against this bill. Let me give Members a major reason to vote for this bill for people who say they want to protect the most needy, the most disadvantaged in our society. Mr. Speaker, for decades this Federal Government has mandated that we provide certain services across this country, and over the last few years we have mandated that poor working-class hospitals provide free emergency health care to illegal aliens. At the same time this Congress and other Congresses have mandated that, they have walked away from the responsibility to pay the bill for the emergency health care to illegal aliens. This bill, Mr. Speaker, has in it a fund set aside to finally reimburse those working-class hospitals that have been denied the reimbursement that they have deserved for so long. I hope my colleagues who claim to represent the poor, the needy, the disadvantaged, the people that are not getting their fair share of health care and coverage, will stand up and say at least, look, this bill does include something that has been denied for much too long. Support this bill and finally start paying for the health care of the illegal aliens that we mandate to be serviced. Quit being a deadbeat dad.”