Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon offered the following remarks on the House floor during debate on the rule of the bill to address the humanitarian crisis at our southern border.

"Madam Speaker:

"A few months ago, I had the opportunity to go to our southern border, meet with border patrol agents, advocates on the ground, a woman separated from her children, and tour detention facilities. The humanitarian crisis was undeniable and has only gotten worse. The cause of this crisis, however, is open to serious question.

"In addition to suspending critical aid designed to relieve conditions causing desperate families to flee their homes, the Trump administration is failing to use longstanding lawful processes and available resources to provide relief to children and refugees at our southern border. These policies are not making us safer, but worsening the situation, at the expense of the health and wellbeing of children and families.

"There are unused beds at facilities in my home Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in Texas, and many refugee children have relatives available to sponsor them.

"Prior to coming to Congress, I represented immigrants and asylum seekers, who, by definition, lawfully enter the country seeking refuge. I can confidently say that international law is being violated on a daily basis, and this administration has abandoned long-standing legal norms for processing asylees, with the apparent purpose of exacerbating the crisis for political gain.

"I agree that we need to send additional resources to relieve the inhumane conditions affecting refugees and children at the border.

"But, we also have a responsibility to make sure that those resources are not misused to exacerbate rather than relieve this crisis.

"Therefore, I am voting for the border relief bill which will provide resources to relieve the crisis, and improve the health and wellbeing of innocent children, while allowing increased transparency and oversight on how these funds are used.

"And to our Republican colleagues in the Senate, especially Senate Majority Leader McConnell:

"If you fail to work with us to address this humanitarian crisis, not only will your legacy be the legislative graveyard of the Senate, but the deaths of these children and families will be on your conscience."