OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026

Floor Speech

Date: Jan. 30, 2026
Location: Washington, DC

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Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I rise to join my ranking member on the subcommittee that we share leadership on. I do thank Senator Paul, but I rise in opposition to his amendment. As she has stated, this amendment would eliminate HHS funding provided in the bill--which the Trump administration actually requested in their budget--that will allow the Agency to drastically improve sponsor vetting for unaccompanied children, ensuring that they are no longer released to human traffickers.

The Biden administration spent 4 years creating this problem, and while the Trump administration is making good progress in remediating the damage, this funding is necessary to continue the work of improving the safety and security of unaccompanied children. Thus, this funding will help to reimburse States, like Texas and Florida, for the cost of statutorily required assistance to certain legal refugees and to support victims of trafficking and victims of torture.

I urge my colleagues to vote against this amendment.

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