Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference with House Democrats, Tri-Caucus Members, and DREAMers to Commemorate 6th Anniversary of DACA
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
June 15, 2018
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12); members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; and DREAMers for a press conference this morning to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Below is a transcript of his remarks:
“I’m here to say Amen!Greisa, that was fantastic. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your work on behalf of literally millions of people.
“Today, we are here to lament six shameful years of slumber in this body, in protecting young Americans. I’m going to introduce one in just a minute. You’ve heard from another one just before me.
“Six years ago, President Obama launched the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or as we affectionately refer to it: DACA. It was an act of common sense and compassion – within his legal authority – directly resulting from the Republican-led Congress’ failure to act on comprehensive immigration reform after it was passed in a bipartisan, overwhelming fashion by the United States Senate and left slumbering in this chamber.
“Those who are eligible, and registered under DACA, were brought here as children and grew up in America, many never having known another home. Today, those young people are teachers, nurses, first responders, and emerging leaders in so many of our communities. They’re contributing in this country because it is the country that they know, the country they love, the country they pledge allegiance to.
“When President Trump abruptly and unnecessarily and tragically ended the DACA program last year, he challenged Congress. He challenged Congress to provide the young DREAMers, as we call them, with certainty through legislation; and yet this House still slumbers. That was 283 days ago that the President of the United States said, ‘Congress, act,’ and Congress slumbered.
“Eighty-six percent of the American people think we ought to pass DACA protections. Eighty-six percent, almost ninety percent of America is asking the People’s House, ‘reflect our views and protect these DACA-Americans.’
“Speaker Ryan has refused to do so. He has refused to bring legislation to the Floor and now, as Greisa has pointed out, he brings two bills that will not accomplish the objective. They are very, very bad, but apparently not bad enough for President Trump. It is a pretense for doing something to address the status of DREAMers, but this process itself is a guarantee that nothing gets done.
“Now before his tweet this morning, we knew that this bill would not pass the United States Senate. Any yet, we fiddle, while DACA is at risk. Congress must act, act quickly, in a bipartisan way, in order to prevent American families from being split apart. We have such bills, not only do we have such bills, we have four opportunities: the DREAM Act; the USA Act; the Goodlatte bill; and yes, Mr. Speaker, whatever you put on the Floor. Put it on the Floor and let the People’s House vote; and yet they slumbered still.
“We know that the majority of the Congress supports putting those four bills on the Floor and saying, ‘whichever one gets the most votes we will send to the United States Senate.’ That is what we ought to do.
“I am going to introduce somebody who is the reason we fight. Not just alone, but he is representative of the millions who are making such a positive difference in America. His name is Francisco Juarez, or ‘Paco,’ affectionately. He came to this country at six months of age. I ask all of you to remember where you were at six months of age; what country you thought you were in. He has gone to elementary school, to junior high school, and to high school. He is a graduate of the University of Utah. He’s an American. This Congress ought to say welcome.
“Paco, come forward and tell your story.”
“I’m here to say Amen!Greisa, that was fantastic. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your work on behalf of literally millions of people.
“Today, we are here to lament six shameful years of slumber in this body, in protecting young Americans. I’m going to introduce one in just a minute. You’ve heard from another one just before me.
“Six years ago, President Obama launched the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or as we affectionately refer to it: DACA. It was an act of common sense and compassion – within his legal authority – directly resulting from the Republican-led Congress’ failure to act on comprehensive immigration reform after it was passed in a bipartisan, overwhelming fashion by the United States Senate and left slumbering in this chamber.
“Those who are eligible, and registered under DACA, were brought here as children and grew up in America, many never having known another home. Today, those young people are teachers, nurses, first responders, and emerging leaders in so many of our communities. They’re contributing in this country because it is the country that they know, the country they love, the country they pledge allegiance to.
“When President Trump abruptly and unnecessarily and tragically ended the DACA program last year, he challenged Congress. He challenged Congress to provide the young DREAMers, as we call them, with certainty through legislation; and yet this House still slumbers. That was 283 days ago that the President of the United States said, ‘Congress, act,’ and Congress slumbered.
“Eighty-six percent of the American people think we ought to pass DACA protections. Eighty-six percent, almost ninety percent of America is asking the People’s House, ‘reflect our views and protect these DACA-Americans.’
“Speaker Ryan has refused to do so. He has refused to bring legislation to the Floor and now, as Greisa has pointed out, he brings two bills that will not accomplish the objective. They are very, very bad, but apparently not bad enough for President Trump. It is a pretense for doing something to address the status of DREAMers, but this process itself is a guarantee that nothing gets done.
“Now before his tweet this morning, we knew that this bill would not pass the United States Senate. Any yet, we fiddle, while DACA is at risk. Congress must act, act quickly, in a bipartisan way, in order to prevent American families from being split apart. We have such bills, not only do we have such bills, we have four opportunities: the DREAM Act; the USA Act; the Goodlatte bill; and yes, Mr. Speaker, whatever you put on the Floor. Put it on the Floor and let the People’s House vote; and yet they slumbered still.
“We know that the majority of the Congress supports putting those four bills on the Floor and saying, ‘whichever one gets the most votes we will send to the United States Senate.’ That is what we ought to do.
“I am going to introduce somebody who is the reason we fight. Not just alone, but he is representative of the millions who are making such a positive difference in America. His name is Francisco Juarez, or ‘Paco,’ affectionately. He came to this country at six months of age. I ask all of you to remember where you were at six months of age; what country you thought you were in. He has gone to elementary school, to junior high school, and to high school. He is a graduate of the University of Utah. He’s an American. This Congress ought to say welcome.
“Paco, come forward and tell your story.”