Bill Summary
This bill aims to remove barriers to healthcare and nutrition assistance for children, pregnant persons, and lawfully present individuals under various government programs, such as Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the supplemental nutrition assistance program. It states that payment shall be made to a state for medical assistance provided to eligible aliens, and that the cost of such assistance shall not be considered an unreimbursed cost. It also amends various sections of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act and the Food and Nutrition Act to ensure that lawfully present individuals are not ineligible for benefits based on their immigration status or date of entry into the United States. Additionally, it requires proper screening methods to be implemented in accordance with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. Overall, the bill seeks to provide access to healthcare and nutrition assistance for all individuals, regardless of their legal status.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect children by removing barriers to health care and nutrition assistance, making it easier for them to access necessary resources.
2. Pregnant persons could also benefit from this legislation, as they would have access to health care and nutrition assistance during pregnancy and for a period of 12 months after giving birth.
3. Lawfully present individuals would no longer be ineligible for benefits under the Medicaid program, the Children's Health Insurance Program, or the supplemental nutrition assistance program based on their immigration status or date of entry into the United States.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9008 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9008
To remove barriers to health care and nutrition assistance for
children, pregnant persons, and lawfully present individuals, under the
Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act, the
Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of such Act, and
under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 17, 2020
Mr. Garcia of Illinois introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently
determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To remove barriers to health care and nutrition assistance for
children, pregnant persons, and lawfully present individuals, under the
Medicaid program under title XIX of the Social Security Act, the
Children's Health Insurance Program under title XXI of such Act, and
under the supplemental nutrition assistance program under the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Health and Nutrition Access for All
Act''.
SEC. 2. REMOVING BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE FOR
CHILDREN, PREGNANT PERSONS, AND LAWFULLY PRESENT
INDIVIDUALS.
(a) Medicaid.--Section 1903(v) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 1396b(v)) is amended by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the
following new paragraph:
``(4)(A) Notwithstanding sections 401(a), 402(b), 403, and 421 of
the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996 and paragraph (1), payment shall be made to a State under this
section for medical assistance furnished to an alien under this title
(including an alien described in such paragraph) who meets any of the
following conditions:
``(i) The alien is otherwise eligible for such assistance
under the State plan approved under this title (other than the
requirement of the receipt of aid or assistance under title IV,
supplemental security income benefits under title XVI, or a
State supplementary payment) within either or both of the
following eligibility categories:
``(I) Children under 21 years of age, including any
optional targeted low-income child (as such term is
defined in section 1905(u)(2)(B)).
``(II) Pregnant persons during pregnancy and during
the 12-month period beginning on the last day of the
pregnancy.
``(ii) The alien is lawfully present in the United States.
``(B) No debt shall accrue under an affidavit of support against
any sponsor of an alien who meets the conditions specified in
subparagraph (A) on the basis of the provision of medical assistance to
such alien under this paragraph and the cost of such assistance shall
not be considered as an unreimbursed cost.''.
(b) SCHIP.--Subparagraph (N) of section 2107(e)(1) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1397gg(e)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
``(N) Paragraph (4) of section 1903(v) (relating to
coverage of categories of children, pregnant persons,
and other lawfully present individuals).''.
(c) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance.--Notwithstanding sections
401(a), 402(a), and 403(a) of the Personal Responsibility and Work
Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1611(a); 1612(a);
1613(a)) and section 6(f) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (7
U.S.C. 2015(f)), persons who are lawfully present in the United States
shall not be ineligible for benefits under the supplemental nutrition
assistance program on the basis of their immigration status or date of
entry into the United States.
(d) Eligibility for Families With Children.--Section 421(d)(3) of
the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996 (8 U.S.C. 1631(d)(3)) is amended by striking ``to the extent that
a qualified alien is eligible under section 402(a)(2)(J)'' and
inserting, ``to the extent that a child is a member of a household
under the supplemental nutrition assistance program''.
(e) Ensuring Proper Screening.--Section 11(e)(2)(B) of the Food and
Nutrition Act of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 2020(e)(2)(B)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating clauses (vi) and (vii) as clauses
(vii) and (viii); and
(2) by inserting after clause (v) the following:
``(vi) shall provide a method for
implementing section 421 of the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1631) that
does not require any unnecessary information
from persons who may be exempt from that
provision;''.
<all>