CAPAC Chair Hails Senate’s Passage of Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform proposal by an overwhelming margin of 68 to 32. Congresswoman Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), released the following statement:

“Today is a landmark moment in the fight to fulfill America’s promise as a nation of immigrants. More than two thirds of the Senate, from all reaches of the country and both ends of the political spectrum, answered the call for immigration reform that the American people made loud and clear in last year’s election. In doing so, they also leveled a challenge for the House to follow suit.

“So far, the House Republicans’ strategy for immigration reform has been to slow-walk and cherry pick. On the same day that the Senate passed their compromise bill, the House marked up an ideological bill that completely disregarded the needs of minority and immigrant communities laid out by the Congressional Tri-Caucus.

“This overt partisanship cannot last if the House is going to rise to the occasion. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in good faith to solve our immigration problems, and to stop undercutting the sincere efforts that Republicans and Democrats in the Senate have put forth. The time for immigration reform is undoubtedly now, and the time for the political games to end has long passed. We must get this done.”

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The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and Members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.