DeLauro Vows Legal Action After HHS Breaks Federal Law, Denies Members of Congress Access to Homestead ORR Facility

WASHINGTON, DC (April 8, 2019) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, today released the following statement after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) denied Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Donna Shalala (FL-27), and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) entry into the Homestead Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) facility.

"The Trump Administration is in clear violation of federal law—specifically the 2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill, Section 234—after denying Members of Congress the ability to enter Homestead and conduct oversight on the treatment and conditions of unaccompanied children. There should be nothing to hide at these facilities, yet HHS has continued to throw up roadblocks and promote ill-conceived reasons to keep Members of Congress out. As such, I am examining all legal remedies along with Congresswomen Wasserman Schultz, Shalala, and Mucarsel-Powell. This will not stand. As Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee that funds HHS and ORR, we will not back down from conducting the oversight the American people sent us here to do."

On Friday evening, DeLauro sent a letter urging HHS Secretary Alex Azar to follow federal law and allow Congresswomen Schultz, Shalala, and Mucarsel-Powell entry into the Homestead ORR facility.