The majority denied consideration of many amendments that would
address timely, high-profile challenges, some of which cut to the core
of our democracy, and would have been allowed under an open rule. In
one of the most egregious examples, the majority blocked an amendment
to provide safeguards to ensure the integrity of government reports on
violent domestic extremism, the likes of which erupted in
Charlottesville in recent weeks, resulting in the death of a young
woman exercising her right to freedom of speech. Not only were amendments to address the President's revocation of
DACA deemed out of order, in an affront to the Appropriations Committee
and to this institution, the majority removed a bipartisan amendment
passed in committee that would have allowed DREAMers to work for the
Federal Government. My friends, we have a responsibility to pass the DREAM Act now. It is
absurd that, after years of receiving bipartisan majority support,
Republican leadership has refused to allow a vote.