Page 15 - HOH

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 27 June 2019

Senate passes $4.6B border aid measure; Pelosi seeks talks

By ANDREW TAYLOR and turned over the Depart-
ALAN FRAM ment of Health and Human
Associated Press Services. The Senate mea-
WASHINGTON (AP) — sure is not as strict in setting
The GOP-held Senate on conditions on the delivery
Wednesday passed a bi- of funding to care for unac-
partisan $4.6 billion mea- companied children and
sure to deliver aid to the contains funding opposed
southern border before by House Democrats for
the government runs out the Pentagon and to ease
of money to care for thou- a payroll pinch at Immigra-
sands of migrant families tion and Customs Enforce-
and unaccompanied chil- ment.
dren. The House and Senate bills
The sweeping 84-8 vote ensure funding could not
came less than 24 hours be shifted to Trump’s bor-
after the Democratic-con- der wall and would block
trolled House approved a information on sponsors of
similar measure backed immigrant children from
by liberals. The House bill , being used to deport them.
which contained tougher Trump would be denied
requirements for how de- additional funding for Im-
tained children must be migration and Customs En-
treated, faced a White forcement detention beds.
House veto threat and was Lawmakers’ sense of ur-
easily rejected by the Sen- gency was amplified by a
ate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, talks with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, widely circulated, horrid
As a result, it remained un- D-Calif., before a House vote on the SAFE Act (Securing America’s Federal Elections Act) which photo of the bodies of a
clear how the two cham- aims to protect the integrity of elections from outside interference, at the Capitol in Washington, migrant father and toddler
bers would resolve their Wednesday, June 26, 2019. daughter who perished
differences and send Presi- Associated Press on the banks of the Rio
dent Donald Trump a com- how long they could be de- together with the Senate Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Grande River.
promise measure that he tained. They would block to get something done. It’s blasted the House bill ear- Also building pressure were
would sign. Trump from shifting the bill’s humanitarian aid. It’s very lier Wednesday. recent reports of gruesome
House Speaker Nancy Pelo- money to programs Con- important.” “They had to drag their conditions in a window-
si, D-Calif., said Democrats gress has not specifically The final outcome isn’t bill way to the left to earn less Border Patrol station in
would propose changes to approved, tighten report- clear. the support of most Dem- Clint, Texas, where more
the Senate legislation on ing requirements and let Congress plans to leave ocrats,” McConnell said. than 300 infants and chil-
Thursday, and spokesman lawmakers visit immigration Washington in a few days “As a result, the House has dren were being housed.
Drew Hammill said they facilities without providing for a weeklong July 4 re- not made much progress Many were kept there for
planned to quickly push advance notice. cess, and pressure is intense toward actually making a weeks and were caring for
the amended measure Pelosi called Trump to wrap up the legislation law, just more resistance each other in conditions
through the House. That still Wednesday afternoon before then. Failure to act theater.” that included inadequate
left questions about wheth- to discuss the measure. could bring a swift politi- Asked Wednesday if he’s food, water and sanitation.
er the Senate and Trump “There’s some improve- cal rebuke and accusa- open to adding some The Border Patrol report-
would accept the revisions ments that we think can tions of ignoring the plight language sought by the ed apprehending nearly
and how quickly the Sen- be reconciled,” Pelosi told of innocent immigrant House, McConnell said, 133,000 people last month
ate could act. reporters. children who are living in “We’re working on finishing — including many Central
“We pray that the White Trump said passing the leg- overcrowded, often inad- up this week and getting it American families — as
House and the Senate will islation was urgent as he left equate federal facilities. to the president.” monthly totals have begun
join us in embracing the the White House for Japan The Senate vote comes The Senate rejected the topping 100,000 for the first
children and meeting their and he appeared to leave less than 24 hours after House bill by 55-37. time since 2007. Federal
needs,” Pelosi said in a writ- the door open for negotia- the House passed its ver- Both House and Senate agencies involved in im-
ten statement after meet- tions. sion largely along party measures contain more migration have reported
ing privately with other top “We are moving along very lines. The funding is urgently than $1 billion to shelter being overwhelmed, de-
House Democrats. well with a bipartisan bill in needed to prevent the and feed migrants de- pleting their budgets and
Pelosi’s statement called the Senate,” Trump said. humanitarian emergency tained by the border pa- housing large numbers
for inclusion of provisions “It’s very far along and I on the U.S.-Mexico border trol and almost $3 billion to of detainees in structures
setting standards of care believe the House is also from worsening. care for unaccompanied meant for handfuls of
for children and limiting going to also be getting Senate Majority Leader migrant children who are people.q