A Member of Congress need not give notice before a visit
Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes, section 5, Sec. 5.
Written by .
A Member of Congress need not give notice before a visit
The document says “may not be construed”Who acts: Secretary of Homeland SecurityHow: statuteSec. 5 in the PDF
What the document says
“Nothing in this section may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility described in subsection (a) for the purpose of conducting oversight.”
Section 546(b). The section may not be read to require a member of Congress to give notice before entering a detention facility for oversight. Subsection (c) allows the department to require 24 hours notice from a designated congressional employee, but not from a member.
What the document actually says
“Nothing in this section may be construed to require a Member of Congress to provide prior notice of the intent to enter a facility described in subsection (a) for the purpose of conducting oversight.”
That sentence, in plain words
A member of Congress does not have to give notice first. They may show up to look at a site.
What this is about
Staff sent in a member's place are treated differently. The department may ask them for a day's notice.
No action is recorded against this proposal. That is not evidence that none has been taken, and nobody has yet read it against the record. See what the tracker does not yet cover.
Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026., Public Law 119-86, sec. 5, 140 Stat. 774 (2026). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-119publ86/html/PLAW-119publ86.htm
This page
“A Member of Congress need not give notice before a visit,” Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026., section 5, Sec. 5. Read the Mandate, https://readthemandate.org/homeland-security-further-additional-continuing/proposal/sec05-sec546-no-prior-notice-required/ (retrieved October 10, 2026).
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