E&C oversight subcommittee to hold hearing on Trump Administration's care for unaccompanied children

Statement

Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) announced today that the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee will hold a hearing on Thursday, September 19 at 10 am in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 Rayburn House Office Building entitled, "Protecting Unaccompanied Children: The Ongoing Impacts of the Trump Administration's Cruel Policies."

"Earlier this year, this Subcommittee held a hearing that exposed some of the worst failures of the Trump Administration's inhumane family separation policy," Pallone and DeGette said. "During that hearing we heard from experts about the long-term consequences for the thousands of children separated from their families by the Trump Administration. Sadly, a recent Inspector General's investigation found that these children are already experiencing post-traumatic stress, heightened fear and anxiety and feelings of abandonment.

"This oversight hearing will take a hard look at the treatment and wellbeing of these children, and whether the Administration is taking steps to dramatically improve care for the children in its custody," Pallone and DeGette concluded.

Next week's hearing will include testimony from officials from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The hearing also comes on the heels of reports that CBP does not intend to provide influenza vaccines to migrant children, adults and families in CBP custody ahead of the upcoming flu season.

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