Congresswoman Lauren Underwood’s (IL-14) legislation to address the humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. The U.S. Border Patrol Medical Screening and Standards Act (H.R. 3525) addresses existing gaps in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy to ensure that migrant children and families receive basic medical screenings. Underwood’s legislation directs DHS to research innovative approaches to address capability gaps regarding the delivery of comprehensive medical screening of individuals, with a focus on children, pregnant women, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations. Additionally, Underwood’s legislation addresses high-priority barriers to effective screening, as identified by DHS medical officers. The bill builds upon ongoing DHS efforts to improve electronic medical recordkeeping by directing the agency to establish an electronic health record system that can be accessed by all departmental components operating along U.S. borders.
