FIRST ON FOX: Republicans on a key House committee are pushing for Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to testify about the ongoing crisis on the southern border and report an increase in the exploitation of migrant children – warning that he could pursue “other avenues” if he refuses.
House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair H. Morgan Griffith initially requested Becerra’s attendance at the subcommittee hearing in March.
In a letter to Becerra, lawmakers say they worked “in good faith” to get him to testify before the subcommittee in May after expressing his willingness to testify at a separate hearing, but they say staff from HHS said he was traveling through May and therefore the appearance would be postponed to June.
Lawmakers say they are “cautiously optimistic” ahead of a May 17 staff call, when things changed.
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US Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Xavier Becerra testifies before the Senate Finance Committee regarding the 2024 budget proposals on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on March 22, 2023. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds/AFP) (Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
“However, following the May 17 call, the subcommittee is considering whether you ever intended to appear voluntarily to give evidence. On this call, your staff, for the first time in these negotiations, has reported that your position is now that it is inappropriate for a Cabinet Secretary to appear before the subcommittee and, therefore, you will not appear voluntarily, regardless of the scope of the hearing,” says the letter.
The letter says the subcommittee sought to accommodate the change by offering a full committee hearing, but that accommodation was declined by staff, who said the committee would have to hold a hearing with an official first. of lower rank before Becerra considered testifying.
“That’s not how the constitutionally mandated oversight process works,” the Republicans say. “The Committee must determine which witnesses it wishes to call to testify.”
Becerra’s appearance is wanted as the United States continues to grapple with a migrant crisis on the southern border, now in its third year. While the main agency tasked with handling the influx of migrants is the Department of Homeland Security, unaccompanied minors encountered by Border Patrol are transferred to the custody of HHS, in which case officials attempt to find them sponsors – usually a parent or relative.
According to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics, the number of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) arriving at the border increased from 33,239 in fiscal year 2020 to more than 146,000 in in fiscal year 2021 and 152,000 in fiscal year 2022. So far in fiscal year 2023, there have been more than 70,000 UAC encounters.
The administration has been struck by a number of New York Times reports detailing an increase in child exploitation, where children are forced to work — sometimes to repay their smuggling fees. This has raised concerns that by transporting children to sponsors, the United States may be involved in child trafficking.
The Times reported how officials ignored signs of “explosive” child labor growth, while staff members claimed Becerra pushed to lay off miners even faster.
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“If Henry Ford had seen this in his factories, he would never have become rich and famous,” he told staff quoted by The Times. “That’s not how you do an assembly line.”
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In March, Becerra pushed back against a claim that the agency was unable to contact 85,000 minors, and he also said HHS authorities were limited by Congress.
“Congress has given us certain authorities. Our authorities end when we find a suitable sponsor to place this child. We try to follow up, but neither the child nor the sponsor are actually obligated to follow us,” he said.
Lawmakers on the Energy and Commerce Committee said his final deal for Becerra was for him to appear at a hearing examining HHS’s role in the crisis on June 13 or 14.
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“If you do not select any of the dates above, the Committee will be compelled to consider other means of obtaining your testimony necessary to fulfill our constitutional mandate to oversee the administration of these programs,” they said.
A committee aide told Fox News Digital those avenues include a potential subpoena. Lawmakers are asking for a response by May 31.
