1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Help Oversee, Manage, and Evaluate Safe Treatment and Ensure Access without Delay Act of 2019” or the “HOMESTEAD Act of 2019”.
Help Oversee, Manage, and Evaluate Safe Treatment and Ensure Access without Delay Act of 2019
A BILL
To grant Members of Congress access to detention facilities, and for other purposes.
2. Mandatory access to detention facilities
In general— A Member of Congress may not be prevented from entering any detention facility for the purpose of conducting oversight.
Temporary modification— The head of a detention facility may not make any temporary modification at the detention facility in a manner that alters what is observed by a visiting Member of Congress.
No notice required— A Member of Congress shall not be required to provide notice of intent to enter a detention facility for the purpose of conducting oversight.
Detention facility defined— In this section, the term “detention facility” means any facility—
used to detain or otherwise house aliens; and
operated by or for—
the Department of Homeland Security (including any facility operated by a private contractor with the Department); or
the Department of Health and Human Services (including any facility operated by a private contractor with the Department).