Pelosi Statement on Border Supplemental Bill to Provide Humanitarian Assistance for Children, Families at the Border

Washington, D.C. June 23, 2019– Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the introduction of a strong border supplemental bill, which provides robust funding to relieve the humanitarian situation at the border and does not fund the Administration’s failed policy of mass detention:

“This week, the House will advance strong border legislation, which protects vulnerable children and keeps America safe as it honors our values.  Congress continues to insist that families belong together and for immigrant communities to know their rights.

“We salute Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and all the appropriators for their relentless, good-faith work to address the heartbreaking and urgent humanitarian situation at our southwest border.

“The President’s failed policies have exacerbated the situation at the border, where vulnerable children endure inhumane conditions that threaten their health, well-being and sometimes, tragically, their lives. This legislation provides urgently-needed humanitarian assistance for families, including funding for food, shelter, clothing, medical care and legal assistance, and will relieve the horrific situation of over-crowding and help prevent additional deaths.  And we are providing urgent assistance to local communities to help defray their costs of providing humanitarian assistance to asylum seekers.

“The legislation protects families.  It does not fund the Administration’s failed mass detention policy, but, instead, funds effective, humane alternatives to detention with a proven track record of success.  It places strict limits on influx shelters, protects sponsors from DHS immigration enforcement based on information collected by HHS during the vetting process and creates strong oversight by Congress including to protect unaccompanied children.

“As Members of Congress and as Americans, we have a sacred moral responsibility to protect the human rights and the lives of vulnerable children and families.  To do anything less would be an outrageous and unacceptable violation of our oath and our morality.”