McBath votes for border-funding bill that divides House Democrats

U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, a Marietta Democrat who represents East Cobb, was one of 129 House Democrats to vote for $4.6 billion in supplemental funding this week for humanitarian aid for migrants along the U.S.-Mexico border and to address overcrowding at detention centers there.

The House supported the measure 305-102, after the Senate passed the special appropriations 84-8 (with Georgia Republican senators Johnny Isakson and David Perdue voting in favor).

The Senate had earlier rejected a different House version of the bill.

The second House vote on Thursday was contentious, with more progressive Democrats accusing moderates in their caucus of child abuse. In one instance, there was a confrontation between Democrats on the House floor over heated social media messages.

The only Georgia House member to vote against the bill was John Lewis of Atlanta.

The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act of 2019 (summary here) would fund operations for the departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Commerce and Defense in the following ways:

• $2.88 billion for the HHS Unaccompanied Alien Children program for the safety and welfare of children under its care;
• $1.1 billion for migrant care and processing facilities, medical care and transportation, and data systems;
• $793 million for establishing and operating migrant care and processing facilities to improve conditions at border stations and ports of entry;
• $220 million to hire additional personnel to expedite immigration court proceedings;
• $209 million for medical care and transportation of unaccompanied alien children and migrants between facilities, counter-human trafficking operations, detention alternatives and migrant processing;
• $145 million for Defense operations and maintenance in support of multiple missions at the border.

The bill is awaiting the signature of President Donald Trump, who is in Asia at the Group of 20 Summit.

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