Defeating the previous question will
enable us, today, to vote on the DREAM Act of 2017, which is a
bipartisan, bicameral bill that will protect our Nation's DREAMers once
and for all. The fact is this is our chance, as Members of Congress, to fulfill
our responsibility on this serious issue. For those of my colleagues
who say they support the DREAMers but that they believe that DACA is
unconstitutional, this is your opportunity to help the DREAMers through
the legislative process. The DREAMers did not choose to circumvent American immigration laws,
and they should not be punished for something they are not responsible
for. Today, my Republican colleagues can provide relief to these young
people by voting to bring the DREAM Act for a vote. Protecting DREAMers is not only a moral issue, it is also an economic
issue. The President's decision to end DACA strikes a vicious blow to
our economy. Forcing hundreds of thousands of young people out of the
workforce will disrupt businesses across our Nation. California, alone,
stands to lose $11.6 billion annually, and the U.S. stands to lose a
cumulative $460 billion in GDP over the next decade if DREAMers are
removed from our economy. As Members of Congress, we represent the American people, and the
vast majority of Americans, regardless of their political affiliation,
support our Nation's DREAMers. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question so we
can pass the bipartisan, bicameral DREAM Act today to enable our
DREAMers to continue contributing to our Nation without fear of
deportation from the only country they know as home.
Keywords matched
immigration DACA deportation