José E Serrano changed his stance and voted in favor of the Health Care reform bill last week, in what appears to be a win for his constituents, and perhaps the Congressman himself.
Serrano initially opposed the bill because of language that would prevent undocumented immigrants from getting coverage. On Thursday, along with the rest of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, he announced his new position, and on Sunday he helped pass the bill. With an immigration bill on the horizon, Serrano has another opportunity to help the undocumented. With a constituency in extremely poor health, he might not have gotten another chance to help the uninsured.
Serrano explained why he changed his mind: “I can vote for this bill with this provision in it for two reasons,” he said in a press release. “First, without victory on this bill, immigration reform will not move forward. Secondly, when we do immigration reform, people who were excluded from health reform will become documented and later citizens, and therefore will no longer be excluded.”
Estimating how many undocumented immigrants live in any area poses obvious challenges, (a problem the 2010 Census is supposed to ease), but the number is assumed to be extremely high in Serrano’s district. At first glance, it might seem sensible for Serrano to de-prioritize these residents since they cannot vote. But voters do not live in vacuums; an undocumented resident is likely the parent, sibling, employee, friend or neighbor of a voter. And it is probably not hard for Serrano – who was born in Puerto Rico – to imagine how different his life might have been if he had been born a hundred miles away in the Dominican Republic.
But the decision to put off the fight for undocumented immigrants does make sense when looking at the health of the South Bronx. Asthma is one of the biggest health problems in an area known for high traffic and heavy industry. The levels lead the nation, with one in four elementary school students afflicted. Few residents do not have a preexisting condition of some kind. The community boards are constantly asking for more and expanded health care centers – but the money is hard to find. According to Serrano’s website, over 86,000 uninsured South Bronx residents would get coverage thanks to the bill. The 65,000 people in the area on Medicaid would see improved coverage. Thousands of small businesses, (the kind with 50 or fewer employees), would get tax breaks to offer employees coverage. Millions of dollars would go to over 70 community health centers.
Serrano explained that his yes vote was for the health of his constituents. “I have fought long and hard to ensure that they are able to lead healthy lives—whether it is working to clean the air that they breath or fighting for parks and open space for people to exercise and relax or even pushing for healthier food options. But voting in favor of this health reform bill is the biggest step we can take to ensure that Bronx residents live healthier lives.”
As much as it made sense for him to fight for coverage for the undocumented, ultimately it made even more sense for Serrano to vote for the bill. His constituents needed the help, and will likely reward him for it with their continued support. With health care finally taken care of, immigration reform should come up on the agenda soon, and Serrano will have another chance to help the undocumented.