Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference Urging House Republicans to Pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) delivered the following remarks today at a press conference urging House Republicans to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill, rather than waste time on partisan legislation that attempts to override President Obama’s executive authority:

“I am pleased to join Leader Pelosi, the Chairman of our Democratic Caucus Xavier Becerra, Clarissa [Martinez-De-Castro of the National Council of La Raza], Lorella [Praeli of United We Dream], and Rocio [Saenz of SEIU] in this very, very important statement as we anticipate a vote on the Floor of the House of Representatives today.

“Everybody in that body believes the immigration system is broken.  If that is the case, there is a responsibility to fix it, to make sure the operations of law do not wrench families apart, take young people who know no country other than the United States of America, who have made a difference in the quality of our country, historically – as the Leader pointed out – and are doing so today.  We have a responsibility to fix that system.  The American people have elected people to do so.  They have elected the President twice.  Both times he told them in that election, ‘I am for fixing the system.’  And so, in light of the fact that the Congress of the United States has shirked its responsibility, the President acted.  He acted with authority that other presidents have exercised.

“There is a bill on the Floor today that will say: ‘No, Mr. President, you don’t have that authority.’  Ladies and gentleman, the Supreme Court is over there.  The court system in this city is down the street.  [The House] is not the court system.  It is the legislative body that has the ability, if they don’t agree with the President of the United States, to pass a bill.  The Senate did so over 500 days ago, and said we can come together in a bipartisan fashion – 68 [votes], over two-thirds of the United States Senate.  And in a recent poll, just a few days ago, 72 percent of Americans said this system needs to be fixed.  

“We are urging all of our colleagues to vote ‘no’ on a bill that will put millions of people at risk and divert resources from getting at people who break our laws in a way that puts property and personal livelihood and security at risk, and take resources away from continuing to secure our borders, which are more secure today than they were a decade ago.  So, I am pleased to join them in saying not only do we need to defeat this bill overwhelmingly, but, more importantly than that, this body needs to act on a comprehensive immigration bill to fix this broken system.”