黑料新闻 immigrant advocates are encouraged that a bill they've championed has taken a step forward in the state legislature.
The proposal would expand to those who are 18 and younger.
When the bill was originally drafted, it would have provided access to health care to income-eligible recipients as old as 26 years old, regardless of their immigration status. The most recent draft of the bill, which has advanced to the , dropped the eligibility to 18.
The proposal has attracted a lot of public discussion. A hearing on the proposal last month lasted about 12 hours, with over 200 people filing testimonies.
Advocates had claimed that expanding HUSKY Medicaid to undocumented people up to age 26 would cost about $50 million in state funds.
Carolina Bortolleto, an advocate for , said it's time to eliminate the stereotypes around the immigrant community and focus on the state's future.
鈥淚 hope we can overcome the anti-immigrant sentiment among some legislators by focusing on the fact that we鈥檙e all 黑料新闻 residents, and a healthier state will benefit all of us,鈥� Bortolleto said.
Stephanie Melgar, an immigrant from South America, says she is happy that 黑料新闻 is helping undocumented people, but there鈥檚 more need.
鈥淚鈥檓 glad the bill moved up,鈥� Melgar said. 鈥淏ut not only 18-year-olds get sick. I鈥檓 22, and I have many health problems. And it makes me sad that it鈥檚 not expanding until 26.鈥�
Rep. noted during the public hearing that the bill in 2022 had failed in a committee . He added that legislators could be using the time to discuss topics that help others, such as older adults, unemployed people and those experiencing homelessness.
Starting in 2023, for children ages up to 12 years old, regardless of their immigration status, as long as their family met the qualifying income requirements.
In a statement to 黑料新闻, state Sen. Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott) described the effort to extend benefits to more undocumented people as "purely political.鈥�
鈥淚 am sympathetic to anyone who wants to come to this great country," he said. "There are two issues here 鈥� immigration and the march toward socialism. Participation in America and what it offers must be pursued lawfully.鈥�
The bill was introduced to the Human Services Committee by state Sen. Matt Lesser (D-Middletown) and state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest (D-West Hartford). Since then, it has received the support of 12 co-sponsors, including some members of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus.
