Skip to main content

Hoyer Discusses the Urgent Need to Fund Government and Protect DREAMers on CNN

Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
February 7, 2018
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined CNN's New Day to discuss the need to fund government, the need to protect DREAMers, and reports regarding President Trump's request for a military parade. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the video:  
   

Click here to watch the full interview.

On the Need to Fund Government

“I think that the Senate plan certainly is better than the House plan, which was a partisan, defense [funding] only, and left all the domestic agencies without any opportunity to plan for the long term. So I think the Senate effort is better. We'll have to see what the Senate ultimately adopts to see if I can be on board, but I certainly think it's a worthwhile effort and hopefully they come to an agreement.”

“There are a lot of things that have not been done. One of the things, of course, that needs to be done is what you just referred to, we need to agree on funding levels for agencies. The Republicans who control all the organs of government have not sent a single appropriations bill to the President for signature. Therefore, no agency knows how much money they're going to have to spend, how they can plan, and how they can make contracts, hire people, achieve objectives. So, in addition to that, we have not dealt with DACA, which the President said the Congress ought to do and it ought to do that by March 5th. We haven't done that.”

On the Urgent Need for a Legislative Solution to Protect DREAMers

“What I want to focus on is the effort to come to an agreement on [protecting DREAMers] ASAP because I think we have a lot of young people who are extraordinary young people, not lazy at all, very motivated. College students, high school students, people who are working, people who have served in the military, people making a difference in our communities. We want to make sure they have the certainty that they're going to be able to be here in the country that they grew up in, that they pledge allegiance to, and that they love. So, I want to focus on that.”

On Reports President Trump Asked for a Military Parade

“I have great respect for the military. We ought to honor our military men and women who we send into harm's way and who are willing to serve and defend and protect America and our people. They deserve great respect. But I don't think a show of military might – it reminds you of what the Soviets do and what the Chinese do. We are the strongest country in the world. We have the greatest military in the world and the world knows that, and we need to honor our men and women in uniform; but I think we ought to do so in a way that does not necessarily appear bellicose or threatening to the rest of the world. We want to be peacemakers, not war makers.”