DeGette statement on vote against border funding bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following is a comment from U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) on her vote today against an emergency spending bill that Congress approved without any significant new protections for the thousands of migrant children in U.S. custody:

"The families and children who are fleeing to this country are often doing so out of desperation. They're not criminals, they're human beings looking for help. The bill we passed in the House this week would not only provide the agencies caring for these children the resources they need, it would also set strict new standards to ensure these kids are receiving the care they deserve. The Senate's bill, on the other hand, does nothing to protect these children. I'm not going to support a bill that gives these agencies all the money they need to house these kids, but does nothing to ensure they are properly cared for. Congress has a responsibility to protect these kids, and if that requires us to stay in town to hash this out and get it right, then that's what we should be doing."