John Hope Bryant: “I have, I think, as consistent and as tough a record in trying to deal with the problem of illegal immigration as any…”

“I have, I think, as consistent and as tough a record in trying to deal with the problem of illegal immigration as any Member of this House of either party. But there have been two exceptions that we have always made with regard to this question. One of them is emergency rooms, and the other has been education of children. They are critical exceptions and they are in the interest of the United States. They are not simply compassionate exceptions. They are exceptions that are in the interest of the United States. As the gentleman from California [Mr. Becerra] said a moment ago, this amendment deals with one narrow area only, and, that is, emergency rooms, because that is the only kind of medical care to which an illegal immigrant is entitled. That is because we do not want anybody to be wandering around out there who has just been injured and not able to go get care in an emergency situation. The fact of the matter is that this is in the law for the benefit of our public.”