Jim DeMint

Mr. DeMINT

Mr. DeMINT. I thank the Senator. I will yield back to him immediately.

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, quickly, I wish to make a request of the chairman. I understand the current amendment will not be finished until tomorrow. I wanted to get one amendment pending. I ask unanimous consent to send an amendment to the desk.

Mr. DeMINT

Mr. DeMINT. I do object.

Mr. DeMINT. I think it is important that we decide what amendments are going to be brought up on our side. I certainly know folks on our side have been working on this. I don't know about this particular group of amendments, if they have been selected on our side or yours. Perhaps there is no problem. But at this moment, I am going to object to those and then confer with our side to see what the big plan is. At this point, instead of doing this a little at a time, I think it is important we know before the next cloture vote that we are going to be able to bring up the amendments we have been waiting on. Until that time, I am going to object to additional action on the floor.

Mr. DeMINT. Madam President, I believe there is enough frustration to go around. I appreciate all the managers of the bill, those on both sides who have worked to come up with a constructive solution. I feel compelled to object to this process because our side has not been able to bring up the amendments we want. They have been carefully selected by the other side, which ones we are going to vote on. It appears this whole scene has been choreographed. We had a cloture vote a few hours ago. We are going to have a few more votes. Then we are going to have another cloture vote, with, I imagine, the statement that now they have accommodated us on our amendments. I have colleagues on the floor who have waited a week to bring up an amendment. They have not been able to do so. I believe what we should do is to submit the amendments we want to bring up en bloc.

Mr. DeMINT. I thank the Senator. Senator Grassley understood that these could be brought up before the cloture vote. I will certainly defer to our leadership to work these in, but our commitment to him is that we bring them up before cloture.

Mr. DeMINT. I object.

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I am speaking on behalf of Senator Grassley, who I understand last night got an agreement that he could bring up 10 of his amendments this morning. I am not here to speak on them but just to give the numbers and to bring them up, as was agreed last night. Mr. Presdient, if I can request from Senator Kennedy that I just read off those amendment numbers.

Mr. DeMINT

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I rise to speak on a resolution I have submitted today that declares June 6 a national day of prayer and rededication for the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their mission. As my colleagues know, when 73,000 Americans stormed the beaches at Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt went on national radio to lead the Nation in prayer for their success. With more than 350,000 men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces deployed worldwide today, and many of these troops directly engaged in armed combat in Iraq and Afghanistan against determined and ruthless enemies, President Roosevelt's words calling on all Americans to ``devote themselves to a continuance of prayer'' for American soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines in harm's way are as appropriate today as they were in June of 1944. As we have witnessed, the war on terror will be long and hard. Unfortunately, the sacrifice will continue to be immeasurable in human terms. It is appropriate to make every anniversary of D-day, June 6, a national day of prayer for the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces. Now I wish to read President Roosevelt's D-day radio prayer: My Fellow Americans Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far. And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer: Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith. They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest--until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. And for us at home--fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them--help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice. Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts. Give us strength, too--strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces. And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be. And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keenness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment--let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose. With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace--a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen. This same prayer will be read in the Chamber of the House of Representatives today, and I hope this Chamber will take up this resolution at some point and make June 6 a day of prayer for our Nation.

Mr. DeMINT

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this amendment. I think all of us would agree that we would like to design an immigration program that benefited America, that actually brightened the future for Americans, for our children, and that we do not want an immigration system that is going to invite people from all over the world who will come here and be a burden to the American taxpayers. Unfortunately, the way this bill is written, the Z visas we offer all the illegal immigrants in this country do not require that these illegals have health insurance before they are given these legal passes. That means they will continue to be a heavy burden on the American health care system. Senator Kennedy has said the $500 one-time fee they have to pay is enough to cover these costs. I know every American wishes they could pay $500 and have free health insurance for life but, unfortunately, it is more expensive than that. Also, Senator Kennedy has said these types of minimum policies cost well over $2,000 a year, which is, frankly, not true. Many of us have policies that cost less than $1,000 a year for a high-deductible policy, which is the minimum level we ask for. The least we can ask of these immigrants we are granting permanent legal status in this country is not to be a burden on Americans for their health care. To have a minimum level of health insurance is the least we can ask. This amendment would require Z visa holders to have that minimum level, and I ask all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. DeMINT. I ask unanimous consent that I have 2 minutes to speak on my amendment.

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I would like to speak on my amendment that is up for a vote.

Mr. DeMINT

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the pending amendment be set aside.

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 1197.

Mr. DeMINT. Mr. President, I rise today to highlight one of the most important domestic issues this country is facing, and that is rising health care costs. I think it is also important to point out that nearly 10 million noncitizens are uninsured according to the September 2006 U.S. Census report on the uninsured. Since no hospital can legally deny a person health care because of their immigration status or inability to pay, my amendment would help prevent that cost from being shifted to the American taxpayers in the form of uncompensated care. Since about three-fourths of all uncompensated care costs are paid by taxpayers in the form of national and State programs, it is imperative the Senate pass my amendment that would require Z visa holders to maintain a minimum level of private health coverage. Under this amendment, minimum health coverage would be defined as a high-deductible health care plan. It is my firm belief these visa holders should take some responsibility for their own health care and avoid burdening American taxpayers when they have medical problems. By requiring Z visa holders to have a minimum level of private health insurance, it will help keep individuals off public assistance and out of the emergency rooms. According to the Economic Research Initiative of the Uninsured, immigrants as a group are nearly three times more likely to be uninsured than native-born U.S. citizens. I am almost certain some of my colleagues will say it is not possible for these visa holders to afford a private health insurance plan. In fact, there are plenty of high-deductible policies available on the individual market that are affordable, with an average cost of about $116 a month. Furthermore, these plans have seen only a 2.8-percent increase on an annual basis compared to 8 percent for all other types of health plans. This low rate of increase is another reason high- deductible health plans are affordable to those with lower incomes. It is also important to point out that by having their own high- deductible health plans, visa holders will be able to keep their policy regardless of their employer. Many employers who want less expensive labor will likely help their employees pay for these high-deductible policies. Mr. President, it is also important to point out that there is a precedent for this type of action. In 1993, the Department of State issued regulations requiring students entering the United States under exchange visas to have health coverage. This amendment would only extend this policy to Z visa holders. What is most troubling to me is that this legislation before us does almost nothing to stem the rising costs of uncompensated care. If we do not pass my amendment, the growing cost of uncompensated care currently at $41 billion per year will only be exacerbated. Supporters of this bill will point to the State Impact Assistant Grant Program that is established in the legislation. This grant program would be funded through fees paid by the immigrant, and it would be administered by the Federal Government to repay States for health and education expenses. However, even the bill language suggests, through a sense of the Congress, that this will not be enough to solve the problem of illegal immigrants using our health care services at a cost to the American taxpayer. Our country is spending $2 trillion per year on health care. While my amendment does not address the entire problem, it does address the problem of noncitizens using our resources at a cost to the American taxpayer. In my opinion, there are many problems with this legislation. But I believe this amendment will at least improve upon this extremely flawed bill. I yield the floor.

Mr. DeMINT. Right.

Mr. DeMINT. Generally, high-deductible plans are accompanied by the health savings account.

Mr. DeMINT. This is the minimum level as established by the high- deductible policies. Certainly, more comprehensive plans would fit in the context of the amendment.

Mr. DeMINT. For the first 5 years, that is correct. But that does not mean they cannot access any of our health clinics, emergency room services, and a lot of uncompensated care can be directed at the current group of illegal immigrants in our country.

Mr. DeMINT. Well, we are establishing a minimum level, which the minimum would be the high-deductible policies, often accompanied by health savings accounts. This does not prevent an immigrant from having a more comprehensive plan, an HMO. But the point of the amendment is not to mandate a comprehensive plan but to establish a minimum level of coverage, which is more affordable particularly to low-waged workers.

Mr. DeMINT. The average of high-deductible plans is $116 a month. I will just say as an aside, I just bought a high-deductible plan for my 22-year-old daughter at $65 a month. This, obviously, leaves some to be paid by the workers themselves. But it avoids the high-risk cost of a worker who may have complicated, very expensive problems, for that whole bill to land on a hospital, which often happens.

Mr. DeMINT. Well, we do not specify. It may be something we want to cover in an additional amendment. But many States, as you know, now have high-risk pools which are available to all workers in the State regardless of immigration status. This certainly may not cover every possible problem. But if we are going to issue Z visas, I think the point is that they become an asset to our economic environment in this country, and certainly if they are uninsurable that may suggest that they are not a viable worker as well.

Mr. DeMINT. Obviously, the uninsured are a problem, and many of us are working on ways to solve that. It is one thing to ask American taxpayers to help take care of their fellow citizens. It is another thing to ask Americans to help assist those from all over the world. Certainly, our hearts go out to anyone with health problems, but we cannot ask the American taxpayer to subsidize low-wage workers for employers who are using them in this country.