[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 21 (Thursday, January 29, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S385-S386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 4271. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by
him to the bill H.R. 7148, making further consolidated appropriations
for
[[Page S386]]
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 1176, after line 17, add the following:
Sec. 239. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
ensure that all Members of Congress are given unrestricted
access, without advance notice, to all immigration detention
facilities used or operated by the Department of Homeland
Security, including ICE-operated, State-run, and privately
operated or contracted facilities, regardless of the source
of funding for such facilities.
(b) Access to immigration detention facilities required
under subsection (a) shall include--
(1) access to all of the areas in such facilities;
(2) the ability to speak privately with detained
individuals and facility personnel; and
(3) the ability to observe conditions of confinement and
compliance with applicable Federal law, regulations, and
standards.
(c)(1) The operator of an immigration detention facility
may not delay, condition, restrict, or deny access to such
facility to a Member of Congress on the basis of security
concerns, staffing limitations, operational considerations,
contractual arrangements, or facility designation.
(2) Not later than 24 hours after discovering that a Member
of Congress' access to an immigration detention facility was
delayed or denied for any reason, the Secretary of Homeland
Security shall submit a detailed report identifying the
reasons for such delay and denial and describing the steps
that will be taken to prevent future delays or denials to--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;
(B) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs of the Senate;
(C) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;
(D) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives;
(E) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of
Representatives; and
(F) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of
Representatives.
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