Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro). Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his commitment, his concern, and his dedication. I rise in support of my colleague's amendment. The death of any child is devastating. The fact that children have died while in the custody of the Federal Government and we don't know the circumstances of why, or sometimes even when, they have died is almost beyond comprehension to me. We have an oversight role. It is our responsibility to make sure that children are safe and protected while they are in the custody of Health and Human Services. If you take a look at the mission statement of Health and Human Services, it says to place a child in a safe environment and do it as expeditiously as possible. It is also our responsibility to ensure that HHS is fully transparent and they ``appropriately respond to the death of an unaccompanied alien child in the care and custody of ORR.'' What my colleague, Mr. Castro, wants to do is to make sure that the Department of Health and Human Services follows its own written policy. It is as simple as that. HHS' own policy, section 3.3.16 states: ``ORR and its care providers must immediately report the death to appropriate Federal, State, and local authorities. ORR must also notify the child or youth's parent, legal guardian, or next-of-kin; attorney; and applicable consulate of the death.'' My God, if we can't do that, who are we? Where are our values?…”