August 14, 2018 Press Release

Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers Continues to Pass the Buck on Child Separation Crisis

McMorris Rodgers spokesperson undercuts Congresswoman’s authority, defends inaction by saying, “she can’t unilaterally advance a piece of legislation into law” in response to Equity Forward ad buy

08.14.18 — Despite the fact that a majority of her constituents want her to take additional action on the family separation crisis, Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) continues to dodge her responsibility as the fourth highest ranking member of the House of Representatives, refusing to hold the Trump administration accountable for the thousands of children who were ripped from their families.

Specifically, a spokesperson for Cathy McMorris Rodgers was quoted in today’s The Spokesman-Review saying she “can’t unilaterally advance a piece of legislation into law” in response to a six-figure ad buy from Equity Forward that calls on the Congresswoman to hold the administration accountable for the crisis.

Said Mary Alice Carter, Executive Director of Equity Forward:

“The idea that McMorris Rodgers is powerless to hold the administration accountable for the family separation crisis is nothing short of absurd.  She is correct that she can’t pass a bill on her own, but her party controls Congress and she is the nation’s top elected Republican woman.

“McMorris Rodgers has stated on numerous occasions that Congress must solve this problem. We agree. Congress can solve this and it is on the people in power to do so.  As the fourth highest ranking member of the House of Representatives, McMorris Rodgers has the authority and duty to get to the bottom of the administration’s self-inflicted human rights catastrophe.  Issuing statements and working on dead-on-arrival legislation while hundreds of children remain separated from their families simply isn’t enough. From her committee position she could be calling for oversight hearings and demanding that leadership at HHS, which oversees the separated children, comes before Congress to answer questions.  Families devastated by this crisis deserve better and the public deserves answers. We join her constituents in wanting McMorris Rodgers to use her leadership position to hold the administration accountable. ”

###