Dalton, Ga. - Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA) gave the following statement today at a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing in Dalton, Ga.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman and good morning to our panelists.

“I am Congresswoman Hilda Solis from the 32nd Congressional District in southern California.  On behalf of Ranking Member John Dingell and my other Democratic colleagues on the Committee, I want to thank the community of Dalton for hosting us today.

“Today’s hearing is delaying and distracting the American people from the real issue at hand—the refusal of the Republican Congress and President Bush to enact comprehensive immigration reform.  Instead, my Republican counterparts want to blame immigrants for driving up the costs of healthcare—a claim that is false.

“The overwhelming majority of evidence shows that immigrants, regardless of status, use less health services than U.S. citizens.  In 2003, health care costs for U.S.-born citizens were more than double that of immigrants.  For example, although emergency rooms are one of the few available health care venues for the undocumented, immigrants use emergency rooms less than non-immigrants.  Only 6.3% of non-citizens used hospital emergency services in 2003, compared to 31.8% of citizens.

“The real problem with our health system is not immigrants but the fact that the system is broken.  Too many uninsured - 46 million Americans lack health insurance, 6 million more than when President Bush took office in 2001.  Too little funding for community care – Republicans have consistently tried to cut funding for healthcare programs.  Too few jobs that offer health insurance - the number of employers offering coverage has declined significantly since President Bush took office.

“If Georgia had an influx of New Yorkers, Oklahomans or Californians - rather than Mexicans or Koreans or Salvadorans - the problems it’s facing would be similar.  That’s because the root of our health care problems remains unchanged: many businesses can't afford health insurance, many low-wage workers can't afford to purchase insurance even if it is offered, and many of our healthcare organizations are not receiving the federal support they need to provide quality care.

“Forcibly removing immigrants from the U.S. or inhumanely denying them needed health care will not solve our health system's problems.  In fact, providing a legitimate pathway to allow immigrants who work hard to earn their citizenship will provide them with better health insurance options and better incomes to afford insurance—possibly reducing the numbers of uninsured.

“The contributions of undocumented immigrants and the benefits they provide to the U.S. economy more than balance the meager health care resources which they are eligible to receive.  The Social Security Administration has reported $56 billion in earnings that are often attributable to immigrants—earnings that help to generate $6 billion to $7 billion in Social Security tax revenue and an additional $1.5 billion in Medicare taxes.  More than 60,000 immigrants serve on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, including more than 35,000 non-U.S. citizens.  Undocumented immigrants contribute at least $300 billion to the U.S. gross national product annually.

“In this politically contentious time, we must not lose sight of the issue at hand.  Our primary obligation as elected officials is to protect the American people and to protect our borders.  If Republicans had not repeatedly defeated Democratic efforts to enhance border security over the last four years, there would be 6,600 more Border Patrol agents, 14,000 more detention beds, and 2,700 more immigration enforcement agents along our borders than now exist.  Apprehension of undocumented individuals at the border has dropped by 31 percent under President Bush compared to President Clinton’s record.  In 2004, only three employers were fined for worksite immigration violations.

“Republicans control the White House, the Senate, and the House – and yet due to Republican in-fighting, they have failed to pass an immigration bill.  My Republican colleagues must stop stalling and help us deliver real immigration reform that represents the values of this country.

“Thank you, again to the panelists for being here today.  I look forward to our discussion.”

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