CHC on One-Year Anniversary of Senate Immigration Bill Passage
Washington, DC- Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chairman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) and Members of the CHC released the following statements on the one-year anniversary of the Senate's passage of S. 744, the comprehensive immigration reform bill. The Senate passed this legislation with a final vote of 68-32 on June 27, 2013.
CHC Chairman Rubén Hinojosa: "One year ago, we all expressed optimism that this Congress would be the one that fixed our broken immigration system, but our Republican colleagues in the House have refused to act. The passage of the Senate immigration bill showed us that it is possible for Republicans and Democrats to come together to solve some of our nation's most pressing problems. The Senate has done its job and it is critical that we in the House now do our job. Now is the time to pass comprehensive immigration reform."
CHC First Vice Chair, Congressman Ben Ray Luján (NM-03): “One year ago, Democrats and Republicans in the Senate worked together to pass comprehensive immigration reform that is good for our economy, strengthens our security, and recognizes the contributions that immigrants make to our country. Over the past year, House Republicans failed to even bring an immigration bill up for a vote. Earlier this year, Republican Leadership outlined their ‘principles for immigration reform,’ yet failed to introduce a bill based on these principles. Instead of bringing up comprehensive legislation that spurs economic growth and lowers the deficit, we have seen attacks on DREAMers and excuses for inaction. Democrats and Republicans in the Senate have acted. Democrats in the House support reform and have also introduced a bill. A broad coalition – from the high tech sector to law enforcement, the faith community to agriculture – backs reform. The American people overwhelmingly favor a comprehensive bill. The only ones standing in the way are House Republicans. It’s time to do what is right for our country and bring comprehensive immigration reform up for a vote.”
CHC Second Vice Chair, Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38): “It is incredibly frustrating that House Republicans continue to ignore our broken immigration system. Their inaction has very real human and economic costs. More than 11 million people who want to pay taxes and contribute to our great country are stuck in limbo. Each day that Republicans continue to delay action, is a day that approximately 1,100 families get separated. Passing comprehensive immigration reform would allow us to capitalize on the potential to create 159,000 new jobs and collect $1.25 billion in revenue over the next decade. It’s time for Speaker Boehner to cut the excuses- our country deserves a vote.”
CHC Whip, Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grishman (NM-01): "A year ago, the Senate did its job by passing a bipartisan immigration bill, and since then Republican leadership has sat on its hands. House Republicans have stalled any and all efforts to pass immigration reform. The time to act it now. Republicans need to join Democrats and work toward a comprehensive solution that will fix our broken immigration system, create jobs, and build a stronger economy."
Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus: “Republicans in the House haven’t listened to their Republican colleagues in the Senate. And it’s certainly clear that they’re not listening to the American people who overwhelmingly want us to fix this broken immigration system. House Republicans have a choice: they can do this the American way, by passing commonsense immigration reform, or they can do this the Tea Party way. We hope House Republicans choose the American way to do business and fix our broken immigration system."
CHC Immigration Task Force Chair, Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez (IL-04): “We offered to work with Republicans and we have been willing to compromise to pass a bill that enhances border security, facilitates legal immigration, clears backlogs for those waiting to come legally, implements E-Verify, and gets undocumented immigrants into the system and on-the-books. But we need a dance partner to work in a bipartisan manner and so far, Republicans have refused to take any action and are threatening to sue the President if he does. We have got to refocus our resources on deporting criminals and keeping out threats, but Republicans are standing in the way.”
Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), one of the authors of the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform bill: “We are at the end of the line, it looks as though the Republicans are giving up on our last chance to bring 11 million people out of the shadows. One year later – after hundreds of rallies, thousands of advocacy meetings, and hundreds of thousands of families being torn apart – immigration reform sits languishing in the House of Representatives while the country waits, 11 million people wait, and the toll from Republican inaction compounds. I truly hope our Republican colleagues in the House don’t forget their immigrant heritage. I hope they understand exactly what the cost of their inaction is, and what it will mean to stand on the wrong side of history just to score political points in a handful of the most conservative districts in the country. The clock is ticking away, and while history is not on their side, the lives of millions are in their hands.”
Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07): “It has been one year since the Senate passed immigration reform legislation, yet House Republicans continue stalling, making excuses and failing to act. It is time to reform our nation’s broken immigration system in a way that honors families, fuels innovation and strengthens our economy for all Americans."
Congressman Raúl Grijalva (AZ-03): “As we mark one year since the Senate passed bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform, we must face the fact that this Republican led House has no intention of following suit. It’s time for President Obama to step up and do everything within his power to ease the plight of the men, women and children suffering from our broken immigration system. Executive action will fall short of what could have been achieved by Congress and, as we work towards a permanent solution, we should be clear-eyed about where fault lies. Republicans have failed the American people by refusing to fix a dysfunctional system.”
Congressman Tony Cárdenas (CA-29): “Today, we recognize the courage of action shown in the Senate to fix our clearly broken immigration system and bring millions of families out of the shadows. Meanwhile, Republicans in the House are ignoring the vast majority of Americans, who want comprehensive reform. They are ignoring $900 billion in deficit relief that immigration reform would provide. They are ignoring the 120,000 jobs that could have been created this year. Most of all, however, they are ignoring the American Dream. Millions of families are in this country, working hard, and crying out for a chance to pay a fine, learn English and help rebuild our nation. To not even have a debate on this critical legislation, one year on, is a complete lack of leadership by the majority of our House."
Congressman Joe Garcia (FL-26), author of H.R. 15: “It is disappointing that in 365 days, this body has done nothing but find excuses” said Garcia. “We need to stop with the finger-pointing and start the governing. If we had passed immigration reform, we would have taken care of the people who are already here and directed resources to the criminals, traffickers, and people who wish to do this nation harm. We would have a comprehensive strategy at the border, so that we could stop throwing money at the problem and militarizing border communities. And we would have an immigration system that meets the needs of our economy, instead of ceding ground to competing nations.”
Congressman Juan Vargas: (CA-51): “An overwhelming coalition of religious, community, and business leaders all agree that our nation can’t wait any longer for immigration reform. The Senate did their part, working tirelessly to send a bipartisan Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill to the House, yet Republican leadership has chosen to do nothing for one full year. We must fix our broken immigration system. Now is the time to come together and bring Comprehensive Immigration Reform to the floor for a vote.”