Representative Pramila Jayapal introduced The Lifting Immigrant Families through Benefits Access Restoration Act (LIFT the BAR Act, HR 5227). The LIFT the Bar Act will restore access to programs like Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP, by removing the five-year bar that denies critical care and aid to “green card” holders, and other types of immigrants who have been lawfully-present in the United States for at least five years. We need your help to send our Members of Congress a message urging them to co-sponsor the LIFT the Bar Act today!
At NEVHC, over 80% of our patients identify their language as a language other than English. It is our mission to provide quality health care to all in a manner that is linguistically and culturally sensitive to the needs of the communities we serve.
The LIFT the Bar Act would:
· Repeal key provisions of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) that (1) restrict lawfully present immigrants from being eligible for federal assistance programs, (2) allow states to adopt more punitive restrictions for immigrants to access benefits, (3) it erects barriers for states or localities who wish to use their own funds to establish more inclusive programs, and (4) removes barriers that restrict or deter access to critical services for immigrants with sponsors.
· Redefines “qualified noncitizens,” a term used to define eligibility for many federal programs, to include any individual who is lawfully present in the U.S.
· Provides that individuals who have access to Affordable Care Act health insurance under current rules do not lose access to affordable coverage if they remain ineligible for Medicaid.
Immigrants are a critical part of our social and economic fabric and we must ensure that they have access to key healthcare and social services. Take action by sending an e-mail to our Members of Congress to co-sponsor the LIFT the BAR Act today!
