Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (R-Ohio) introduced the Strengthening Our Health Security Act of 2022 with fellow GOP Doctors Caucus Co-Chairs, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (R-Md.), and Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas). This legislation follows the Biden Administration’s announcement to suspend a public health policy known as “Title 42” effective May 23^rd. This policy, which refers to Title 42 of the Public Health Service Act of 1944, is a crucial tool that allows immigration officials to quickly expel illegal immigrants to prevent the spread of communicable diseases in the United States.

“Terminating Title 42 while the country is still under a public health emergency is the height of folly and will endanger the health and welfare of Americans. This decision will only add additional strain on our already overwhelmed system and also exacerbate the flow of illicit fentanyl, which is devastating our communities. The Department of Homeland Security anticipates as many as 18,000 migrants will attempt to illegally enter the country per day if Title 42 is revoked,” said Rep. Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. “It is important that Title 42 remains in place to prevent the entry of communicable diseases and illegal substances in the interest of public health."

"The Biden Administration can’t have it both ways. While the COVID-19 public health emergency remains in effect, we must keep Title 42 in place," said Rep. Andy Harris, M.D.

“The purpose of Title 42 is to respond to public health emergencies. By ending Title 42 before ending the public health emergency, President Biden is prioritizing politics over keeping Americans safe. Ending Title 42 will further open up our southern border to human and drug traffickers," said Michael C. Burgess, M.D.  "It is critical that we pass the Strengthening Our Health Security Act to hold our executive agencies accountable and stop dangerous fentanyl, which has caused over 100,000 young American deaths, from streaming across our border.”

Rep. Wenstrup's bill prohibits terminating Title 42 until at least 60 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency has ended and Congress has been notified. The bill also requires the Department of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, to provide Congress with a public health plan for processing migrants at the border. The plan must include a process for screening migrants for COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, details on the agencies’ testing capacity, protocols to protect Federal employees, a process for screening for imported illicit/controlled substances, as well as protocols to prevent and treat other communicable diseases.

Click here to read the bill text.

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