Barbara Lee: “I thank the chairwoman for yielding and for her tremendous leadership. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of…”

“I thank the chairwoman for yielding and for her tremendous leadership. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3239, the Humanitarian Standards for Individuals in Customs and Border Protection Custody Act. I thank Dr. Raul Ruiz for bringing his medical expertise to this body and introducing this bill to bring some humane treatment to families and children seeking refuge in the United States. This critical bill creates basic standards for humanitarian care of all detainees within CBP facilities. By establishing health screenings, emergency medical care, appropriate access to water, nutrition, and shelter, these critical standards are a step in the right direction. Last year, when I traveled to Brownsville and McAllen, Texas, I saw the horrors of the Trump administration's family detention jails. I saw children sleeping on concrete floors. It is cruel and inhumane. And I, quite frankly, wrote a letter to the United Nations asking the secretary general to send observers to report on the conditions and treatment of these children and adults. Mr. Chairman, I include in the Record my letter. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, June 19, 2018. His Excellency Mr. Antonio Guterres, Secretary General United Nations Headquarters, New York, NY. Dear Secretary-General Guterres: I write today to request your urgent assistance in the ongoing crisis our country is facing at our Southern Border with Mexico.…”