Ernst Supports Bipartisan Effort to Help Address the Humanitarian Crisis at the Southern Border

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) today supported a bipartisan bill that will provide desperately needed aid to help address the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.

“The Senate has come together in a bipartisan way to provide much-needed assistance for the humanitarian needs at our southern border, including support for the care of unaccompanied children and basic necessities for migrants. This bill is just one piece of the puzzle to address our border crisis. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to provide for a secure border and sensible immigration system,” said Senator Joni Ernst. 

The bipartisan bill provides $4.6 billion in emergency supplemental funds to address the humanitarian and security crisis at the border. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved this bill by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 30-1. This bipartisan package includes:

• $2.88 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically the Office of Refugee Resettlement, to provide safe and appropriate shelter and care for children in its custody;
• $1.1 billion for Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to improve the conditions at the border, alleviate overcrowding at facilities, and provide medical care and consumables;
• $209 million for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to fund transportation costs and medical care for detainees, conduct human trafficking operations, and pay travel and overtime costs for personnel;
• $30 million for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse states and localities for expenses they have incurred related to the massive influx of migrants;
• $220 million for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to help process immigration cases and provide badly needed resources to the U.S. Marshals Service for the care and detention of federal detainees; and,
• $145 million for the various branches of the U.S. military that have incurred operating expenses in support of multiple missions along the border.

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