Thread by @TiffanyBond

Hey #mepolitics -

Want to read it? It's not in congress.gov yet with a number. This is the "Family Reunification Act"

#Readthebill

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Off the bat, I'll give you credit for signing on to a short bill - 3 pages, 2 substantive.

I think some words are missing though. Do you suggest any edits @RepPoliquin? What were they? Have they been incorporated yet?

#Readthebill #mepolitics

The summary is that the AG and Secretary of HHS shall use all necessary means to ensure that each unaccompanied alien child who was removed to be reunited...but there are some concerns. It's a little vague.

#Readthebill #mepolitics

There is no time-bound frame here for "earliest possible"...that seems really easy to abuse. "Sorry ma'am, a decade was the earliest possible time frame for us to prioritize getting your child back." There should be an actual timeline. 2 business days?

#Readthebill #mepolitics

I also think this should be explicit on who bears the cost for reunification. It should be us, since we chose the locations where these children landed. Some of these children are being flown 1k+ miles away from parents.

#mepolitics #Readthebill

This borrows from some of the language already circulating on other bills, which is a sign I may read too many bills. The bill is incomplete though...

#mepolitics #Readthebill

It just sort of...ends?

There isn't anything about figuring out if they have the right kid with the right parent, any sort of reporting for precisely how many kids we have, reunification times, any remedies for parents seeking to find their kids.

#mepolitics #Readthebill

I like a short, readable bill. This one certainly accomplishes that end.

However, these are some number X of children and we have no idea where they all are, how their parents can identify them, and it doesn't really sound like DHS does either.

#mepolitics #Readthebill

How old were your children when they could accurately identify you without having you physically present? It sounds like we may have a decent amount of that going on.

Good start Bruce. Add some language before you move it forward so it's effective.

#mepolitics #Readthebill

Oh, and I'm a little worried someone could get hinky with the definition from page 2. These kids parents are going to be somewhere between (g)(2)(C)(i) and (ii), I feel like a nefarious policy maker has a lot of room to be a jerk interpreting here.

#mepolitics #Readthebill

A la "well they couldn't provide care because they were detained in an adult facility but they aren't eligible for a family facility unless they are already reunited".

Reunification is going to be a messy logistical nightmare, worse each day we wait.

#mepolitics #Readthebill