Bill Excludes Vital Bipartisan Provisions

Washington, DC – The National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S., voiced deep dismay with the Senate Committee on Finance’s bill to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). Despite a long history of bipartisan support for restoring coverage to legal immigrants in SCHIP, four members of the Committee reached a deal excluding the immigrant provisions and pledging to oppose amendments to the deal.

“It is a sad day when senators negotiate against the health of children and mothers,” remarked Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO. “Legal immigrant children and pregnant women will continue to face tremendous barriers to health care if they continue to be barred from Medicaid and SCHIP. We all pay a price for these restrictions.”

The Committee’s SCHIP bill will help some eligible Latino children gain access to health care by linking them with culturally competent enrollment services and language assistance. However, the bill follows a recent and unacceptable trend of Congress to slight legal immigrants, despite the fact that they pay taxes, serve in America’s armed forces, and contribute enormously to the economic well-being of the country.

“Members of Congress who just weeks ago professed support for legal immigrants during the immigration debates are now abandoning their promises to support those who legally reside in this country. We will not stand aside and let Congress ignore legal immigrant children any longer,” warned Murguía. “NCLR will take every action necessary to make sure that their needs are accounted for in SCHIP reauthorization.”

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