IIB 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3670 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JULY 29, 2019 
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs 
AN ACT 
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to ensure 
access to appropriate temporary shelter, food, and water 
for individuals apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Short-Term Detention 
Standards Act’’. 
SEC. 2. ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE TEMPORARY SHELTER, 
FOOD, AND WATER DURING SHORT-TERM DE-
TENTION. 
Paragraph (1) of section 411(m) of the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 211(m)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(1) ACCESS
TO
APPROPRIATE
TEMPORARY 
SHELTER, FOOD, AND WATER.—The Commissioner 
shall make every effort to ensure the provision to an 
individual apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection of appropriate temporary shelter with ac-
cess to bathroom and shower facilities, water, appro-
priate nutrition, hygiene, personal grooming items, 
and sanitation needs.’’. 
SEC. 3. AUDIT AND INSPECTIONS OF DETENTION FACILI-
TIES. 
(a) OIG AND GAO.—The Inspector General of the 
Department of Homeland Security and the Comptroller 
General shall carry out regular audits and inspections, in-
cluding unannounced audits and inspections, of processes 
(including recordkeeping) utilized by U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection to conduct intake and process individ-
uals apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 
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The Inspector General and Comptroller General shall, to 
the extent possible, share information and coordinate to 
ensure that Congress is provided timely audit and inspec-
tion information. 
(b) CONGRESSIONAL ACCESS.—The Commissioner of 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection may not— 
(1) prevent a Member of Congress or an em-
ployee of the United States House of Representa-
tives or the United States Senate designated by such 
a Member for the purposes of this section from en-
tering, for the purpose of conducting oversight, any 
such facility; and 
(2) make any temporary modification at any 
such facility that in any way alters what is observed 
by a visiting member of Congress or such designated 
employee, compared to what would be observed in 
the absence of such modification. 
(c) PHOTOGRAPHS.—The Inspector General of the 
Department of Homeland Security, Comptroller General, 
a Member of Congress, or an employee of the United 
States House of Representatives or United States Senate 
shall be authorized to take photographs or video or audio 
recordings of conditions in a facility but may not publish 
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photographs or video or audio recordings with personally 
identifiable information without permission. 
Passed the House of Representatives July 25, 2019. 
Attest: 
CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 
Clerk. 
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