Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020

Floor Speech

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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I want to repeat what my amendment is. My amendment is to make sure that if a child dies in government custody, that that death is reported to the Congress. I am shocked that anybody in this Chamber would disagree with that provision.

I am saying that if somebody dies in ORR custody, they are going to tell us. So to be opposed to this amendment means that you want to be part of a coverup and make sure that the government does not say anything about a child's death.

The reason that this is so important is because last September a young 10-year-old girl died. This Congress and the American people were not told for 7 or 8 months about that young girl's death.

Today, we offer an amendment to make sure that the Congress is told, that the American people know what is going on with their government. And when I offer that amendment on the other side, I am opposed, people are against it. They want to cover up these deaths? They don't want the American people to know that people are dying?

There have been, in the last few years--actually, in less than a year--six children who have died in government custody, and more adults over the last few years.

This is already the rule with the Department of Homeland Security with ICE. This is extending it to ORR.

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Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Chairman, we have a disagreement. I don't believe this is the law right now. If it already is the law, then what is the big deal with supporting this amendment? All it does is reaffirm the law. I am surprised that we can't agree to it.

I want to give you an example and a story of why this is so important. Last September, when Darlyn Valle died in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, news of this death was not revealed to the American public or Members of Congress until just a few weeks ago because of a CBS investigation.

Darlyn Valle was 10 years old when she died while in ORR custody. She was in ORR custody in my hometown of San Antonio when she became gravely ill and staff sent her to the hospital. However, beyond those few details, we have limited information surrounding her death because the administration has decided to deny it to Congress, even after we asked the officials repeatedly about any injuries, abuse, or deaths on their watch.

This amendment seeks to end this confusion and enhance transparency in our government. I want to repeat that again. Last fall, when we were asking this administration whether any child had died or been seriously injured in government care and custody, their answer was no.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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