CHC on House GOP Immigration Bills
The Republican-Led House Votes on 2nd and 3rd Immigration Bills in the 113th Congress
Washington, DC- Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) and Members of the CHC released the following statements on H.R. 4138, ENFORCE the Law Act of 2014, and H.R. 3973, the Faithful Execution of the Law Act. These two bills target President Obama and his ability to use executive authority. House Republican Leadership has only allowed one immigration bill to be voted on thus far, and that vote was Rep. Steve King's amendment to the Department of Homeland Security's FY 2014 Appropriations Act which sought to defund DACA.
"Why are we wasting time in the House of Representatives? House Republican Leadership continues to take aim at President Obama instead of focusing on the critical work the American people want Congress to do. We should be debating and voting on legislation that moves our country forward - legislation that raises the minimum wage, extends unemployment benefits and fixes our broken immigration system. Actions speak louder than words and these vote are another step in the wrong direction," said CHC Chairman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15).
“House Republicans are doubling down on a strategy to defeat immigration reform. These two bills would disable the President’s ability to temporarily alleviate deportations and the separation of families. At the same, Republicans are shutting down every effort in the House to vote on bipartisan legislation that would finally fix our broken immigration system. Overwhelmingly, the American people support immigration reform, including a path to citizenship. Yet this do-nothing Congress continues to gamble with people’s lives and our country’s economy by blockading any legal pathway to relief through legislation or executive action. It has been five months since House Democrats proposed a bipartisan solution to our dysfunctional immigration laws. The time is now to vote on H.R. 15," said Congressman Xavier Becerra, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus (CA-34).
“Once again House Republicans are showing how out of touch they are with the American people. A majority of Americans want Congress to take action on immigration reform with a path to citizenship. But instead of moving forward with legislation that is good for our economy, good for our security, and reflects the contributions immigrants make to our country, House Republicans are seeking to end the President’s effort to support Dreamers who represent the promise of America. Brought here by no fault of their own to the only home they have known, so many have worked hard with the goal of building a better life for themselves, their families, and their communities. Republicans say they support reform. They say the support giving Dreamers a path to citizenship. But actions speak louder than words, and the only action they have taken undermines support for Dreamers and indicates House Republicans are not yet serious about addressing real immigration reform,” said CHC First Vice Chair Ben Ray Luján (NM-03).
“These bills are another misguided attack on immigrant communities by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Instead of working to keep families together, they are punishing young people who are studying and working to become contributing members of our society. If my Republicans colleagues want the support and trust of the Latino community, they have to earn it through their actions. That is why I urge them to act now to allow a vote on H.R. 15,” said CHC Second Vice Chair Linda Sánchez (CA-38).
“The ENFORCE the Law Act and the Faithful Execution of the Law Act is just another attempt by House Republicans to pass the buck on fixing our broken immigration system. Instead of working with Democrats to address immigration, House Republicans are more interested in eliminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and deporting DREAMers who came to this country through no fault of their own. Now is the time to stop playing political games with people's lives and fix our broken immigration system," said CHC Whip Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01).
H.R. 4138, the "ENFORCE" Act, would allow Congress to sue the President for failure to faithfully execute the law. H.R. 3973, the Faithful Execution of the Law Act, cites DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) and the Affordable Care Act as reasons for the legislation. On Wednesday, the House debated and voted on H.R. 4138. Debate on H.R. 3973 began on Wednesday, with final passage scheduled for Thursday.