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Letter to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House - Congressman Duffy Urges Speaker Pelosi to Fund the President's Request for More Beds for Unaccompanied Alien Children

Letter

Date: June 13, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Minors and Children Immigration

"Dear Madame Speaker:

"Knowing that you may soon bring supplemental appropriations legislation to the floor of the House, I urge you to ensure that this legislation fully funds the President's request for beds to be used by Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC).

"As you know, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which provides essential services and beds to UAC, is experiencing a substantial increase in referrals to their facilities. As of April 30, 2019, ORR had received referrals of approximately 40,800 UAC, which represents a 57 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2018 and puts ORR on a path to care for the largest number of UAC in the program's history.

"On May 1, 2019, the Administration sent a letter to Congress requesting an emergency appropriation to address the needs of those UAC in federal custody. This would provide ORR the funding necessary to offer adequate lodging and care while it works to find sponsors for these children. Without emergency funding, the UAC program could exhaust its funding as soon as the end of June and will be forced to scale back services to these children. Additionally, should funding not be appropriated, thousands of children could be forced to remain in Department of Homeland Security facilities that were not designed to serve as long-term shelters.

"There is a major humanitarian and security crisis at our southern border. Regardless of your political leanings, we should all agree that the critical needs of UAC should be met. As the father of eight, I cannot stand idly by while these children suffer. Inaction amounts to nothing less than a dereliction of our Constitutional duty.

"Therefore, I respectfully request that you fulfill the President's request for humanitarian assistance via supplemental appropriations.

"Thank you for your consideration of this important matter and I look forward to your response."


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