Letter to the Hon. Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services - Open Doors and Stop Hiding

Letter

Dear Secretary Azar:

I made a request to the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to see local facilities housing immigrant children, including children who were separated from their parents at the President's behest under his so-called "zero tolerance policy." I rearranged my schedule and fully complied with your Department's required protocols, including providing the required two weeks' notice, even though I believe that these rules are completely unnecessary.

It is unacceptable that you have denied my request and are doing a bureaucratic shuffle aimed at covering up the tragedies of the President's policy of separating undocumented families. What are you trying to hide? What is it that you don't want the American people to see? This cover-up is an injustice and an affront to our American values. HHS must open its doors and stop hiding from congressional scrutiny.

My constituents and the American public deserve to know what is being done with these separated children and that they are being well cared for by your Department. As important, they need to be reunified with their families as quickly possible. I want to know that HHS is living up to our American values when it comes to the caring for these separated children, and I want to see these facilities with my own eyes. This is a matter of the utmost importance and urgency to our country, and neither I nor my constituents will be satisfied with HHS' attempts to block or delay tours of these facilities. As soon as possible, I request that I be allowed to visit these facilities as requested. I await your approval of my request.

Sincerely,

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