House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) today issued the following the statement after the Biden administration announced an illegal plan to—without congressional approval—alter the definition of “lawful presence” to give health care benefits to individuals in the United States under the DACA program: 

“Rather than focus on policies that will lower the American people’s incredibly high health care costs, President Biden is attempting to send taxpayer dollars to health insurance companies to subsidize coverage in a manner that is expressly prohibited by Obamacare and Medicaid. Worse, this radical attempt to please his base comes just before he is set to end crucial Title 42 border protections. 

“This administration’s open border agenda is creating more incentives for people to enter our country illegally, which leads to more instability for law enforcement, weakens our safety net programs, and drives us further into debt. Ultimately, this illegal action will threaten the security of the American people. 

“Time and again, President Biden has demonstrated more concern with scoring political points with the radical left than abiding by the rule of law, reining in inflationary spending, or keeping Americans safe. Our committee looks forward to hearing from the HHS Inspector General next week regarding this and a host of concerning issues.” 

BACKGROUND:

Obamacare prohibits illegal immigrants from purchasing health coverage through health insurance exchanges and receiving subsidies for such coverage.  

• Congressional Research Service: “Undocumented individuals (individuals without proper documentation for legal residence) are prohibited from purchasing coverage through an exchange, even if they could pay the entire premium. Because the ACA prohibits undocumented individuals from obtaining exchange coverage, these individuals are not eligible for the PTC.” 

As recently as July 2022, the Biden administration affirmed that individuals with DACA status were not eligible to enroll in coverage through the marketplace.  

• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: “Individuals whose immigration status is unverified and individuals granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status are not eligible to enroll in coverage through the Marketplace, even at full cost, although they may be able to purchase coverage outside the Marketplace.” 

NOTE: Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General Christi Grimm is scheduled to testify before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations on April 18, 2023.

Original source can be found here