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house Bill H.R. 3551

Should Members of Congress Have Access to Federal Facilities (Like Detention Centers for Migrants)?

Argument in favor

Congressional oversight of immigrant detention centers is needed to ensure that they take adequate care of the detainees in their custody. This is especially important given the allegations of poor conditions and inhumane treatment of detainees at these facilities, and that many detainees are in poor health after an arduous journey across the border.

Susan's Opinion
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08/20/2019
It’s their constitutional duty to do oversight. They must not be blocked from doing it.
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Leah's Opinion
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08/20/2019
Yes. If the government/tax payers are funding it, we need full transparency.
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jimK's Opinion
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08/20/2019
Congressional delegations not only have the right to monitor how taxpayer dollars are being used, they have that responsibility. There are way too many hidden agendas at play in this administration, way too many misdirections and way too many justifications for actions that simply don't match the facts. Since there has been documented human rights abuses at the detention centers, any attempt to block or limit oversight from Congressional delegations should be just as illegal as it is immoral , unethical and indecent. I believe that mistreatment of detainees is in violation of international agreements and laws as well. Suggesting that potential mistreatment could effectively be hidden from the legislators that fund these operations is inconceivable.
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Argument opposed

There are already multiple existing oversight processes for immigrant detention centers through ICE’s Office of Detention Oversight; a private company, Nakamoto Group; and the general public, through a process called “stakeholder procedures.” Plus, 2018 legislation already gave members of Congress the ability to drop in to visit detention centers for children, who are the most vulnerable population in detention facilities.

Gopin2020's Opinion
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08/20/2019
Only with exceptions; no media or cameras of any sort, congressional staff would be okay. But not unescorted to prevent them from coaching these illegals on what to say to asylum personnel. We must prevent the radical Democrats from using these facilities for their agenda. #MAGA
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Tricia 's Opinion
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08/20/2019
No. Stop trying to push all these Bills to keep inciting division in America. It like a feeding frenzy. Try doing things that actually bring people together. Like cleaning up your cities.
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JTJ's Opinion
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08/20/2019
Democrats weren’t interested in the facilities when Obama was running them. They don’t care about migrants, they are only using them as political pawns.
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Bill Details

Official information provided by the Congressional Research Service. Learn more or make a suggestion.
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Title

Restoring Oversight for Members of Congress Act

Official Title

To ensure that Members of Congress have access to Federal facilities in order to exercise their constitutional oversight responsibilities.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The senate has not voted
  • The house has not voted
      house Committees
      Committee on Oversight and Reform
    IntroducedJune 27th, 2019
    Susan's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/20/2019
    It’s their constitutional duty to do oversight. They must not be blocked from doing it.
    Like (116)
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    Gopin2020's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/20/2019
    Only with exceptions; no media or cameras of any sort, congressional staff would be okay. But not unescorted to prevent them from coaching these illegals on what to say to asylum personnel. We must prevent the radical Democrats from using these facilities for their agenda. #MAGA
    Like (27)
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    Leah's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/20/2019
    Yes. If the government/tax payers are funding it, we need full transparency.
    Like (90)
    Follow
    Share
    jimK's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/20/2019
    Congressional delegations not only have the right to monitor how taxpayer dollars are being used, they have that responsibility. There are way too many hidden agendas at play in this administration, way too many misdirections and way too many justifications for actions that simply don't match the facts. Since there has been documented human rights abuses at the detention centers, any attempt to block or limit oversight from Congressional delegations should be just as illegal as it is immoral , unethical and indecent. I believe that mistreatment of detainees is in violation of international agreements and laws as well. Suggesting that potential mistreatment could effectively be hidden from the legislators that fund these operations is inconceivable.
    Like (76)
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    Aidan's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    It’s a federal facility in which congress leads that federal government. They should be given 24/7 access 365 days a year!
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    Ronald's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/20/2019
    Senate Bill S.3551. Congressional oversight of immigrant detention centers is needed to ensure that they take adequate care of the detainees in their custody. This is especially important given the allegations of poor conditions and inhumane treatment of detainees at these facilities, and that many detainees are in poor health after an arduous journey across the border.
    Like (30)
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    Steve's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Congress, do your job.
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    burrkitty's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Our federally elected officials should have the right to go and inspect any facility that receives federal funding and that they have the appropriate clearances to view. Likewise our state officials should have the ability to go inspect any facility that have state funding and that they have the appropriate clearances to view. Congress his job is oversight. They must have the ability to do it.
    Like (23)
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    Tricia 's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/20/2019
    No. Stop trying to push all these Bills to keep inciting division in America. It like a feeding frenzy. Try doing things that actually bring people together. Like cleaning up your cities.
    Like (23)
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    singinghawk926's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Absolutely. This is part of Congressional oversight of the Executive Branch which has been neglected for the last 40+ years! Yes, we must also ensure Congress doesn’t get too cocky, but that’s not the immediate urgent issue! Our government cannot function when one of the three branches has too much power!🇺🇸
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    IllWill's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Members of Congress should always have access to detention facilities and without notice to examine the conditions that immigrant detainees have to live in. Our politicians need to have the access to prevent a humanitarian disaster at the border that’s being encouraged by our criminal President!
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    Ellen's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Yes, but only if they go there to help. I would love to see my useless senators-tillis and burr-clean some toilets and showers for those poor detainees. Moscow Mitch can chip in too
    Like (18)
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    JTJ's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/20/2019
    Democrats weren’t interested in the facilities when Obama was running them. They don’t care about migrants, they are only using them as political pawns.
    Like (15)
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    Leona-Aurelia's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Why this wasn’t already the case boggles my mind - we pay for these detention centers with our tax dollars! The LEAST they can do is make sure that our representatives can visit these places to make sure they’re operating humanely. I don’t think they should even exist and we shouldn’t have corporations turning a profit over detaining people, but this would at least get us the full truth of what these places are like. While we’re on this topic of taxpayers knowing where our money’s going, we should have a full itemized list of what the military industrial complex spends their billions we haphazardly throw at them every year.
    Like (13)
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    Leigh's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Their job is OVERSIGHT. This is a part of oversight.
    Like (10)
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    DrCindyBean-ConcernedVoter's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Support Joaquin Castro’s bill to ensure congress can always inspect federal facilities...like immigrant detention centers.
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    Cheryl's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Absolutely!!! And they shouldn’t have to give notice before coming. Congress has oversight responsibilities and therefore should have unfettered access to inspect those facilities.
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    Glowurm's Public Comment
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    08/21/2019
    They have ALWAYS HAD ACCESS PRIOR TO THIS ADMINISTRATION. I KNOW OF NO LAW THAT RESTRICTS THEM, EXCEPT FOR TRUMP’S LAW, which isn’t really a law. It’s more like a Decree than a law, ‘cause he thinks he’s above the law! DOJ, will you please tell him, he is not, or show me where he gets the authority to make such a law? Our elected officials should have a DUTY to visit these sights. No one should be able to stop them, UNLESS there may be a danger to them, should they do so. I don’t believe that applies here. Get the local police to assist you in gaining entrance to the facility and jail ANYONE that gets in your way. This is more of the Dictator’s bullshit. Last I heard, we weren’t a dictatorship - YET!
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    Mike's Opinion In Favor
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    08/20/2019
    Hadn’t Congress always had this right? Isn’t it called oversight?
    Like (8)
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    Purrkitty's Public Comment
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    08/20/2019
    Or VA hospitals?
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