Senate Votes for Mandatory AIDS Tests of Immigrants
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WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday voted 96 to 0 to require AIDS tests for immigrants in the first congressional endorsement of mandatory screening for the fatal disease.
The amendment, proposed by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), was added to a fiscal 1987 supplemental appropriations bill that was approved Tuesday.
President Reagan announced Sunday his plans to order tests for immigrants and federal prisoners. In addition, he said the Administration would examine whether Veterans Administration hospitals would also routinely do the test.
The Senate amendment would require Reagan, by Aug. 31, to order AIDS virus tests for all immigrants, including the 3 million illegal aliens expected to seek legal status under the immigration reform bill passed last year.
Immigrants now are checked for contagious diseases such as syphilis and leprosy and sent back to their native countries if they test positive. Acquired immune deficiency syndrome would be added to the list under the Helms amendment.
The spending bill would add more than $77 million for AIDS treatment, education and research this year.
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