This week, along with my colleagues from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I met with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden at the White House. We discussed the humanitarian crisis occurring on our southern border, as well as the future of immigration reform. The discussion with the President was very frank and honest. He reconfirmed his commitment to protecting the children who have left their war-torn countries, seeking sanctuary in the United States. Both the President and the members of the CHC agreed that a supplemental appropriations bill was critical to funding both facilities and caregivers, who will provide an appropriate environment for these children, and proper representation and due process, which they are entitled to under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Law, which was passed on a bipartisan basis in 2008. Without further funding, the Department of Health and Human Services will run out of money in mid-August, further complicating the situation. The CHC committed to the President that we would support the immediate passage of a funding bill to avert this. The CHC and the President also agree that they expect faster, but fair, due process for these children, as required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization law. The President also discussed the future of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform efforts being blocked by Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner. In March, the CHC met with the President, who committed to meet with us again, should Congress not act on immigration reform. Following through on that commitment, the President told us in our meeting that he will work with the CHC to pour over the full range of executive actions he can both consider and act on as soon as possible. The meeting with the President was a productive discussion that will hopefully result in decisive actions to protect both those who have come to this nation to seek their American Dream and the children who are looking to the United States as a sanctuary from violence and death in their homeland.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 16:41:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015