House Dems unveil $4.5B border measure

WASHINGTON — House Democrats unveiled a $4.5 billion measure Friday to respond to the growing humanitarian crisis at the southern border and the government’s responsibility to care for tens of thousands of migrant refugees seeking safety in the U.S. under its asylum laws.

The measure is scheduled for a floor vote next week as both the House and Senate are scrambling to wrap up action on the must-do measure before agencies caring for the influx of migrants — already stretched to the limit — run out of money.

The measure was unveiled as lawmakers and the administration are increasingly unnerved by the crisis and reports of bad living conditions at government-funded shelters.

At the White House, the government’s point man in handling the crisis stressed the need to act and said time is running out.

“We’re going to run out of money in July because the numbers are just so high,” Health and Human Service Secretary Alex Azar said Friday at the White House.

“This is not about gamesmanship,” he said. “This is not about politics. This is not about immigration policy. This is a humanitarian relief package. And it has got to pass. It’s got to pass immediately. We are out of money and we are out of capacity.”

The House measure provides $2.9 billion for refuge and migrant care and assistance by the Department of Health and Human Services, another $1.3 billion for care provided by Department of Homeland Security agencies, and $60 million to reimburse local governments and nonprofits who help shelter migrants.

“There are serious humanitarian needs at the border, and we all recognize the clear need to act,” said Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.

The House bill is similar to a Senate measure that won a sweeping bipartisan vote in the Appropriations Committee on Thursday. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., promised a Senate vote next week.