That is part of our overall resiliency goal, is making sure that we make safe houses affordable and accessible.

We have to make sure that we are not sole-sourcing different building materials or standards to where there is only one company that makes a product.

And I know that Mr. Wright has been outspoken about this issue and ensuring that we properly use those tools.

I first want to thank the gentleman from California for his courtesy and, of course, that of the majority leader. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a failure of our government to issue a promised and required set of…

I think Mr. Homan said it best. Our country is upside down.

I want to say to you that you are just as American as anyone else here in this room.

These facilities, in my view, put profits for shareholders above the safety and the care of those in detention.

There is a terrible slander abetted by the President and by other people, a lie that says... that illegal aliens... are a danger to the United States.

Madam Chair, I want to thank you for hosting this important hearing, and also for your leadership with respect to the Dignity in Detention Act that you have introduced that I am proud to be a co-sponsor of.

I don't know how Americans today would be willing to serve in law enforcement.

I do think facts matter, and there are a variety of reasons that I believe justify ending for-profit detention in the United States of America.

Thank God we have a President willing to take on this crisis.

I don't think there is any question that we are wasting millions of taxpayer dollars, in my view, by having these for-profit facilities.

It is a sad state of affairs in our country that we are at this place.

The Trump Administration's immigration policies have been a failure at a policy level and, more important, as a matter of basic human decency.

I do think the bluster and the attacks in opening statements by one witness in particular on other members of this body whom are not here to defend themselves, I think is inappropriate.

I am sure that is coincidental, of course.

Military-style assault weapons have no place in civilian hands, in my view.

As long as we have people pushing that language and that racism, we will need laws that protect communities like mine.

We are here today to create change, so that communities like mine will not have to endure what we endured, because the consequence is long-lasting.

The Muslim ban's most assured effect is to keep families apart.

It is simply un-American to discriminate against immigrants solely because of where they come from for their religious beliefs.

The policy we're examining today certainly runs counter, in my view, to our American values, counter to our Nation's founding, and counter to our morality and humanity.

I find it very difficult, given the values that we care about in this country of keeping families together, that it wasn't in that 2-year-old's interest, as well as our National interest, to keep that mother and child together.

Since its founding, this land has been a safe haven for immigrants seeking a home, those fleeing persecution, those desiring freedom to worship, and those placing their hope in the American Dream.