Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference with House Democrats on the Need to Pass the DREAM Act
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
December 20, 2017
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined House Democrats, led by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Emerson Collective; and the Inside Out Project, a participatory art initiative, to highlight DREAMers and the need to pass the DREAM Act. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
“Thank you Madam Chair, Michelle Lujan Grisham. Thank you Anya Murray with the Inside Out Project.
“Inside out. The fact is there are a lot of DREAMers inside and 83% of America does not want them out, wants them in. They want them inside, in. Why? Because they’re making such a positive contribution to our country, to their communities, to their job sites, to their schools, to our military. In so many different ways, DREAMers are making America better.
“I quoted Robert Kennedy to some of the folks here, when we got here a little earlier. As he left campaign sites, during the course of his 1986 campaign for President he said, ‘some men see things as they are, and ask why? I dream things that never were and say, why not?’
“Why will the Republican leadership not put a bill on the Floor that we know has at least three hundred votes for keeping people in, as 83% of the American people want? Why will not the Senate put a bill on the Floor that Lindsey Graham, not a Democrat, but Lindsey Graham said has over 60 votes – Marco Rubio says the same – on the Floor?
“We are the representatives of the people, and 83% of them want us to say in a clear and unequivocal voice: DREAMers, stay here; DREAMers, keep participating in making America better.
“DREAMers, the President says he loves you, DREAMers. Mr. President, tell the Congress, before we leave here, give DREAMers the confidence that we do, in fact, love the DREAMers.
“I am pleased to be here with these extraordinary leaders in the Congress of the United States, and I’m particularly pleased to be here with the woman that I’m going to introduce. She’s a new Member, but she is a Member with an extraordinarily strong voice, engaged, and leading. She’s from the state of Washington, the city of Seattle, Pramila Jayapal."
“Thank you Madam Chair, Michelle Lujan Grisham. Thank you Anya Murray with the Inside Out Project.
“Inside out. The fact is there are a lot of DREAMers inside and 83% of America does not want them out, wants them in. They want them inside, in. Why? Because they’re making such a positive contribution to our country, to their communities, to their job sites, to their schools, to our military. In so many different ways, DREAMers are making America better.
“I quoted Robert Kennedy to some of the folks here, when we got here a little earlier. As he left campaign sites, during the course of his 1986 campaign for President he said, ‘some men see things as they are, and ask why? I dream things that never were and say, why not?’
“Why will the Republican leadership not put a bill on the Floor that we know has at least three hundred votes for keeping people in, as 83% of the American people want? Why will not the Senate put a bill on the Floor that Lindsey Graham, not a Democrat, but Lindsey Graham said has over 60 votes – Marco Rubio says the same – on the Floor?
“We are the representatives of the people, and 83% of them want us to say in a clear and unequivocal voice: DREAMers, stay here; DREAMers, keep participating in making America better.
“DREAMers, the President says he loves you, DREAMers. Mr. President, tell the Congress, before we leave here, give DREAMers the confidence that we do, in fact, love the DREAMers.
“I am pleased to be here with these extraordinary leaders in the Congress of the United States, and I’m particularly pleased to be here with the woman that I’m going to introduce. She’s a new Member, but she is a Member with an extraordinarily strong voice, engaged, and leading. She’s from the state of Washington, the city of Seattle, Pramila Jayapal."