S.Amdt. 2648

Mr. Bennet submitted SA 2648, an amendment to be proposed to a larger bill (H.R. 1). As folks who want to keep an eye on how our elected officials handle things, it is important to look at what this specific proposal does with our tax dollars and the rules it creates.

What It Aims to Change or Add

The amendment makes two main additions to the bill:

• It adds an exception stating that the fees under the subtitle shall not apply to an individual determined to be an unaccompanied alien child.
• It creates a new section called SEC. 100019. UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILDREN CAPACITY.

Where the Money Goes

The amendment appropriates $3,000,000,000 to the Office of Refugee Resettlement for fiscal year 2025. These funds come straight from the Treasury out of money not otherwise appropriated and will stay available until September 30, 2029.

The text lays out specific rules for these funds:

• The money must be used pursuant to section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008.
• Out of that total amount, not less than $750,000,000 must be used specifically for unaccompanied children's legal services, post-release services, and child advocates.