Thread: Safeguarding border health - Democrat Bill for more "grants"

It looks like the Democrats are wanting more grants to take care of non citizens that are jumping the border. This is a sideways sneak Bill that they have proposed.

COMMENTARY: Safeguarding border health




Posted: Sunday, August 3, 2014 2:00 am

U.S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa | Guest columnist

On July 28, I introduced the Border Health Security Act of 2014, which would strengthen the existing United States- Mexico Border Health Commission by codifying it as an independent and objective body able to recommend and implement initiatives to Congress and the president to improve health care along the border.

If passed, the bill also would establish grant programs to improve the health of border residents and to pay for preparedness to ward against bioterrorism, infectious diseases and non-communicable emerging threats.

The Rio Grande Valley, is one of the fastest growing regions in the country.However, it is also one of the most challenged when it comes to health care. Our border with Mexico is a dynamic region consisting of more than 15 million people with significant and unique public health and economic needs, unlike anywhere else in the nation. Residents contend with cross-border traffic, insufficient roadways and water and sewer systems. They also have among the lowest rates of health insurance coverage, poor access to healthcare services, high unemployment, low educational attainment, and high rates of dangerous diseases like tuberculosis, diabetes and obesity-related ailments. All these factors greatly contribute to a great disparity in access to health care in the Valley.

Data from the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission shows that diabetes, cervical cancer, tuberculosis, hepatitis and other communicable diseases, are much more acute along the border.

The bill, which also was introduced in the Senate by Tom Udall, D-N.M., provides over $30 million in grants to states, universities, local governments and hospitals for initiatives that would improve and protect the health of border residents and visitors by providing border states with the necessary resources to prevent, detect and respond to the challenges faced on our Mexican and Canadian borders.

The bill also would authorize $7 million a year in appropriations for border grants and operations.

These monies would help to address infectious disease testing and monitoring; public health and public health infrastructure; medical research; healthcare infrastructure; health disparities; environmental health; epidemiology and workforce training and development.

Grants also could be used for early warning infectious disease surveillance projects in coordination with state and local governments to develop and implement infectious disease surveillance plans, public health emergency readiness assessments and preparedness plans and alert networks; and to improve infrastructure and laboratories, including isolation/decontamination facilities.

This bill has the support of several Democratic co-sponsors including representatives Filemon Vela Jr. of Harlingen, Henry Cuellar of Laredo; Eddie Bernice Johnson of Dallas, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, and Michael Michaud of Maine. It also is endorsed by the National Rural Health Association and the American Public Health Association.

With the help of the Border Health Caucus, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, we will continue to work together to make the border a healthier place to work and live.

Congressman Rubén Hinojosa, a Democrat, represents Texas’ 15th congressional district, which includes McAllen, Pharr and Weslaco.
http://www.themonitor.com/opinion/co...7a43b2370.html

Send them home and secure the border, Enforce current immigration laws