Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference On The Introduction of a Discharge Petition to Force a Vote on the DREAM Act

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD), along with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and House Democrats, held a press conference on the introduction of a discharge petition to force a vote on the DREAM Act. Below is a transcript of his remarks:

“Good evening. Thank you for being here. When President Trump announced the end of the DACA program, he put hundreds of thousands of young people and their families in danger, and undermined our country and all its citizens as well.

“Now, it’s up to Congress to take action to prevent families from being split apart and to prevent young Americans in mind and spirit from being sent back to countries of their birth, but not their homes. This is their home.

“That’s why we are now collecting signatures, starting this evening, on a discharge petition to force a vote on the DREAM Act.

“Some of you will recall that we forced a vote on the Export-Import Bank. I made the representation to Leader McCarthy that that bill had a majority of votes on the Floor. In fact, it had a majority of Republicans and all but one Democrat. And it passed with over three-hundred votes. When we are successful on the discharge petition, this bill will pass.

“This bill will enable those young people to continue helping to build a stronger America and stronger communities. It will allow them to continue lending their talents to the work of innovating and creating American jobs.

“There is already bipartisan support to pass the DREAM Act. We know that both the Speaker and the Majority Leader have spoken sympathetically to the DREAMers, and in fact, Speaker Ryan urged the President not to take the action he took. The President took his action, notwithstanding that advice, and said it’s up to Congress. Congress needs to accept that responsibility. Congress needs to pass the DREAM Act.

“There is already bipartisan support, as I said. I urge our Republican colleagues to join us in forcing the DREAM Act to come to the Floor for a vote. And if it does, the majority will support it.

“We are also looking at other avenues to support the passage of the DREAM Act, including urging our Members to oppose the hasty FAA reauthorization package tonight that is a missed opportunity for us to bring the DREAM Act to the Floor as an amendment to that bill. It must pass at some point in time, but it ought to pass with the DREAM Act in it.

“I want to thank CHC’s Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham for introducing the discharge petition, as well as Representative Robin Kelly who allowed us to use her bill to do this. Some of us have made some sacrifices, but not any as many as Robin on this bill.

“I look forward to working with the CHC, with CAPAC and Chair Judy Chu, and others in the Democratic Caucus to build support for this petition and bring the DREAM Act to the Floor.

“Our Leader, Nancy Pelosi, has made it very clear: this is our number one priority, it must be done and we should not wait until the last minute. We need to resolve the angst and anxiety of those young people and their families and doing it sooner rather than later is the right thing to do.

“Now it’s my pleasure to introduce the Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Congresswoman [Michelle Lujan] Grisham.”