HB 1292 would end prenatal services for mothers of citizen children

A House committee on Wednesday will hear a bill that would directly harm Arkansas children and families, residing here legally or not.

We need you there to show opposition: 10 a.m. Wednesday in the House State Agencies Committee at the Capitol.

House Bill 1292 would force people applying for services to verify their citizenship or lawful presence with an affidavit to receive services. AACF is very concerned that this would end prenatal programs for pregnant undocumented women, a program proven to improve the birth outcomes and health of Arkansas citizen children. These are children who will one day lead our state and economy.

We also cannot afford this legislation. The Department of Human Services estimates that the cost of verifying citizenship is up to $13 million a year. There would be even more costs associated with losing prenatal care.

Here are some background points to help with calls and letters:

Arkansas immigrants are paying their share. A 2007 study funded by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation study showed that Arkansas’ immigrants, including those who are undocumented, produce a net “gain” for our state on many levels. The study showed that immigrants paid $20 million more in taxes than they used in state services. It also showed that immigrants directly and indirectly generate almost $3 billion a year in business revenue.

Immigrants are paying sales taxes, property taxes – either through rent or home ownership – and income taxes. In some cases, immigrants pay more than their share of income taxes because they’re less likely to collect refunds owed to them.

This is an expensive solution to a problem that no one has been able to pinpoint, even after years of searching. There are very few instances anyone in or outside government can point to in which our state offers services to undocumented immigrants that are not required under federal law.

We educate all children, which is the right thing to do, and which also happens to be a federal requirement. Our Health Department provides public health services, such as immunizations, to all regardless of their ethnicity or citizenship status.  That is sound policy for the health of all Arkansans. The Department of Health estimates that it would cost five or six times more to check documents for those who need services than the cost of the services in the first place.

One of the worst consequences of this legislation is that it would seem to prohibit funding for prenatal care that Arkansas offers regardless of a mother’s legal status. For children who will be U.S. citizens and citizens of Arkansas, it is smart fiscal policy to ensure that all mothers have access to proper prenatal care. We began offering this service under the administration of Gov. Mike Huckabee, who saw it as a “pro-life” measure.

This legislation explicitly requires that an agency verify that a person “applying” for a benefit is lawfully present, not necessarily the person intended to receive the benefit. The language in this bill as written creates barriers for U.S. citizens and other lawfully residing children who rely on their parents to apply for benefits on their behalf.

We don’t want to undermine any child’s long-term development and ability to become productive citizens of Arkansas.We believe that all children deserve an opportunity to become healthy, productive citizens, no matter their race, class or ancestry. We don’t believe in punishing children for the sins of their parents, which is what this bill would do.

America has always been a nation where children can get health care regardless of where their parents were born. As long as immigrants pay their fair share, their children deserve the same affordable health care as other children. All children deserve an opportunity to become healthy, productive citizens.

UPDATE: After many hours of testimony and debate, this bill failed to get out of committee.  More to come in a future blog post.