From Oregonians for Immigration Reform:

August 16, 2009

OFIR members and supporters:

We have been receiving reports from members that some Congressional staffs are claiming that the House healthcare bill, (H.R. 3200), would not allow illegal aliens to enroll in the government health program. Unfortunately there is nothing in the bill that requires people show proof of citizenship or legal status in order to enroll.

Bear in mind that in a June 2009 Rasmussen Poll 80% of the respondents stated that they are opposed to providing government healthcare coverage to illegal aliens.

Fortunately we have people such as Congressmen Greg Walden (Oregon 2nd District) fighting for us.

Please read the letter from Congressman Greg Walden to OFIR President Jim Ludwick.
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Congress of the United States
House of Representatives

August 13, 2009

Mr. Jim Ludwick
President
Oregonians for Immigration Reform
PO Box 1438
McMinnville, Oregon 97128-1438

Dear Jim:

I wanted to let you know that recently during the committee debate on the health care bill (H.R. 3200) I voted for an amendment that would have prevented illegal aliens from receiving Medicaid benefits. Unfortunately, the amendment failed by a vote of 28-29.

As you may know, States receive a high federal matching rate for Medicaid services – between 56 percent and 84 percent. Furthermore, 92 percent of States in 2005 allowed self-declaration of citizenship for Medicaid and, incredibly, 27 of those States did not verify proof of citizenship at all. A 2005 audit in Oregon found that 3 percent of all Medicaid beneficiaries were illegal aliens.

If the Democrat majority in Congress is going to pass legislation to expand Medicaid, at a

minimum we should require that those receiving taxpayer-funded care verify they are here legally. Adopting proof of citizenship requirements already in use by other federal programs like Medicare and Supplemental Security Income, as this amendment would have done, makes sense to me.

H.R. 3200 will likely be debated and voted on by the full House of Representatives in the fall. I will continue to support efforts to require that the citizenship status of those receiving taxpayer-funded health benefits is certified.

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to update you on this important issue. It’s an honor to represent you in the U.S. Congress.

Best regards,

GREG WALDEN
Member of Congress