June 27, 2014

Congresswoman Lee to House Republicans: Bring Bipartisan Comprehensive Immigration Reform Up for a Vote

Oakland – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) marked the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Senate’s passage of bipartisan, comprehensive immigration reform legislation (CIR) by calling on House Republicans to stop blocking the legislation from coming to a vote. 

“We know that our current immigration system is fundamentally broken and is tearing families apart every day. We need a common sense system that provides a pathway to citizenship and an opportunity for all individuals to contribute to our country’s economic future,” said Congresswoman Lee. “One year ago, the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would help mend this broken system. This bill has the votes to pass the House; it is past time Republicans bring it to the floor.”

Congresswoman Lee is a co-sponsor of the House version of the comprehensive immigration reform bill (H.R. 15) and an original signatory to the discharge petition that would bring the bill to the floor. H.R. 15 has 200 co-sponsors including three Republicans and is backed by law enforcement, veterans groups, faith leaders, the business community, and nearly eighty percent of Americans.

“Three months ago today, I signed onto the ‘Demand A Vote’ petition calling on Speaker Boehner to bring this bipartisan solution to a vote,” added Congresswoman Lee. “Over the last 365 days, House Republicans have done nothing but offer excuses while failing to fix a broken system that damages lives and hinders our economy.”

Over the last year, House Republicans have voted for four anti-immigrant bills including legislation by Congressman Steve King (R-IA) that would push DREAMers into the shadows of our society.

“House Republicans have two choices. They can grow our economy, empower small businesses and reduce the federal deficit or they can continue with a broken system that tears families apart,” added Congresswoman Lee. “It’s far past time that the Republicans stop allowing the most extreme, anti-immigrant part of their party to block this bill. Instead,  Republicans should listen to the outpouring majority of Americans and give the public a vote.”   

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Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and Twitter at @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov.

Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, as well as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), where she serves as the Co-Chair of the CPC Peace and Security Task Force.