Comprehensive Immigration Reform
The United States is a nation of immigrants, and we recognize the contributions made by Americans who came to this country from all over the world to make a new home and pursue the American Dream. That’s why House Democrats continue to work for common sense, comprehensive, and balanced immigration reform: reform that secures our borders, respects the rule of law, and provides immigrants with a fair chance of achieving the American Dream. We believe that if you work hard and play by the rules, you should have a chance at building a future here in America. Comprehensive immigration reform would be good for the American economy and help our fiscal outlook. House Democrats have worked to establish a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and T.P.S. and D.E.D. status holders by twice-passing the bipartisan American Dream and Promise Act, which Republicans continue to obstruct in the Senate. House Democrats also passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to reform the H-2A guestworker program to allow those contributing to our agricultural economy to remain in America. President Biden has taken action to restore the DACA program, end wasteful spending on an ineffective border wall, and reaffirm America’s values. Democrats will continue to partner with the Biden Administration to help Dreamers, fix American’s broken immigration system and ensure that it strengthens America and grows our economy.
I am honored to stand here with Mr. Hinojosa and the Hispanic Caucus. But let me make it very clear: the Hispanic Caucus speaks for all of us, not just for their Caucus Members but for the Democratic Caucus and for millions and millions and millions of Americans who see America as a welcoming, compassionate, humanitarian, fair country.
In today's paper there’s an op-ed , it's written by Mr. McCarthy, the new Majority Leader. In that op-ed he said, quote: ‘I have always believed that you must win the argument before you can win the vote. In Congress, committees act as idea factories for policies from both sides, and as Majority Leader I will commit to the committee process and regular order.’ Apparently he didn't start yesterday doing that, and we don't start today doing that.
It’s been a rough day for the brand-new House GOP leadership. After moving further and further to the right with their supplemental, they just had to pull their own bill. It’s quite remarkable to see how far they were willing to go to avoid working with us on a bipartisan basis in a failed attempt to get their extreme far-right on board:
I thank the Gentlelady for yielding. I was going to ask my friend from Pennsylvania [Rep. Dent] whether he had talked to the Senate and thinks this has any chance of moving this week, and the answer I think I would give is no, it does not.
This can’t be the headline that GOP leadership was hoping for this morning, but as we’ve seen time and time again, this is what happens when House Republicans decide to go even further to the right on a bill to nowhere instead of working with Democrats on a bipartisan basis:
It is the first time [Congress has sued the President]. It will be an unprecedented action if, in fact, the Congress sues the President.
What we need to do in my view, however, is meet the immediate challenge of processing these folks who have come across the borders, many of whom are children. Treat them in a humane way and consistent with law.
With less than two weeks until the August district work period, House Republicans continue to ignore critical legislative priorities and are focusing their attention on a partisan and political lawsuit that will waste time and taxpayers’ dollars.
On Wednesday, House Democrats revealed our new economic agenda geared at jumpstarting the middle class and ensuring that everyone can Make It In America.
House Republicans are resisting bringing legislation to the Floor that would provide critical assistance to address the humanitarian crisis at the border, because of the cost – yet, those same House Republicans have passed multiple tax extender bills that add hundreds of billions to the deficit.