CAPAC Members Demand a Vote on Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Democrats introduced a discharge petition to demand a vote on H.R. 15, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation would reunite families, help secure our borders, protect our workers, provide an earned pathway to citizenship, and create jobs. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statements:
Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:
“Today, I demanded a vote on comprehensive immigration reform legislation that’s been stalled for too long. We are done waiting for House Republicans who are more concerned with stonewalling progress than fixing problems. It is time for Speaker Boehner to stop blocking bipartisan reform that will keep families together. With Asians and Pacific Islanders making up 40 percent of the 4.3 million caught in our current immigration backlog, this is not just a Hispanic issue – it is also an Asian and Pacific Islander issue. Most importantly, it’s an American issue. The time to pass immigration reform is now.”
Congressman Mike Honda (CA-17), CAPAC Immigration Taskforce Co-Chair:
“I am proud to stand with my fellow 199 cosponsors of H.R. 15 to demand a vote on Comprehensive Immigration Reform. This petition is a powerful tool, and shows the nation that we are not willing to wait any longer. We have the votes today to pass this bill. We are tired of waiting for Speaker Boehner, so today we are taking action. Every day that we wait, families remain torn apart; high-skilled workers remain unable to join, and contribute to, the American economy; and our future leaders, teachers, and soldiers are denied the opportunities they seek and deserve. Together we can build a fair, effective, and common sense immigration system that lives up to our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.”
Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (AS), CAPAC Immigration Taskforce Co-Chair:
“I strongly support the discharge petition for H.R. 15, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. H.R. 15 will right the many wrongs within our broken immigration system, offering the promise of a better life, a better future for countless families here in our great country. We must continue to press forward on this most important issue as it affects every American. We cannot afford to sit on this any longer. I urge my colleagues to sign the current discharge petition.”
Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI):
“It’s been nearly a year since the Senate came together to pass a bipartisan immigration reform bill, a true compromise that will strengthen our economy and reduce the deficit. Each day that the House doesn’t act, millions remain trapped in the shadows of a broken system and families are being kept apart. I urge my former House colleagues to sign the discharge petition and take a significant step toward producing real immigration reform.”
Congressman Joseph Crowley (NY-14), Vice Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus:
“We are a nation built by immigrants, and we are stronger because of it. But our current system is not meeting our country’s needs, putting this proud tradition at risk. Immigration reform is not just good for our economy and our society, but it is also the right thing to do. That’s why the American people deserve a vote.”
Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), CAPAC Whip:
“Since the Senate passed its immigration reform bill last year, the only thing that has been standing in the way of fixing our broken system is Speaker Boehner, who has refused to address the issue. Realizing that millions of families could no longer wait, House Democrats have decided to act and organize a discharge petition that would force the Speaker to schedule a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform bill currently sitting in the House. We’ve known for decades that our current immigration laws are inefficient and outdated and Speaker Boehner can no longer ignore this important issue. I urge my colleagues to sign the discharge petition so that we can finally fix our broken immigration system. The time is now.”
Congressman Al Green (TX-09):
“I support the House of Representatives taking an up-or-down vote on H.R. 15, the bipartisan Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. The Senate has already approved a similar common-sense reform package to our immigration system, which secures our borders, has a pathway to citizenship, and provides for an electronic employment verification. Letting millions continue to live in uncertainty about their status in our nation is unacceptable when we have a bipartisan reform plan that can help millions of families and bolster our economy.”
Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01):
“After months of delays and inaction from our Republican colleagues in the House, it is time for us to take control of this legislation and move immigration reform forward. We cannot accept the status quo as a solution. H.R. 15 represents a reasonable, effective way toward real improvements to our immigration laws, reflecting many of the provisions that have already passed muster in the Senate. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in supporting this discharge petition and real action on immigration.”
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13):
“It is long past time to vote on comprehensive immigration reform legislation. Today’s discharge petition for H.R. 15 sends a clear message to House Republican leadership that we, like many Americans throughout the country, are tired of waiting for action on immigration reform. H.R. 15 would bring millions out of the shadows, provide a pathway to citizenship, keep families together, and protect workers from exploitation. It would also reduce the deficit by $900 billion over the next two decades and modernize our broken immigration system. This bill has the votes to pass and now is the time to act.”
Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06):
“The American people have made it clear that they want to see action on comprehensive immigration reform. That is why this morning I joined my House Democratic colleagues in signing a discharge petition to force a vote on H.R. 15. This legislation would reform our broken immigration system by securing our borders, protecting workers, supporting families, and by offering an earned pathway to citizenship for millions of individuals who are currently forced to live in the shadows. With this discharge petition we are sending a strong message to Speaker Boehner; it is time to act. The American people demand a vote.”
Congresswoman Grace Meng (NY-06):
“I am proud to join my fellow House Democrats and demand a vote for comprehensive, humane immigration reform by signing the discharge petition for H.R. 15. Those of us who have advocated for comprehensive immigration reform are extremely frustrated. The Senate passed bi-partisan legislation to overhaul our nation’s broken immigration system nine months ago, but the Republican leadership in the House has refused to even schedule a vote on our similar House bill.
“It is well past time to fix our dysfunctional immigration system that has hurt too many people for far too long. The American people will not accept any more excuses. The time for comprehensive immigration reform must be now.”
Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47):
“Today I stand with millions of families across our country to call for comprehensive immigration reform. We have a bipartisan bill with wide support from the American people, now we simply ask Speaker John Boehner to bring H.R. 15 to the floor of the House for a vote. This bill secures our borders, provides an earned pathway to citizenship, and increases economic opportunity for all Americans. We demand a vote because the American people are tired of living under a broken immigration system and seeing families broken apart. I look forward to voting yes on comprehensive immigration reform this Congress.”
Congresswoman Grace Napolitano (CA-32):
“We must pass comprehensive immigration reform to strengthen our economy and give millions of families the security they need and deserve. It is critical that we bring people out of the shadows, unite families, and honor our American family values. The evangelical, law enforcement, business, and agriculture communities have united in support, with the only holdbacks being our colleagues who refuse to dialogue with us to address the broken immigration system. We have had a comprehensive reform bill for over a decade, and we trust that some of our colleagues will sign the discharge petition and do the right thing.”
Congressman Scott Peters, (CA-52):
“It is beyond time to pass immigration reform. The bipartisan proposal in the House would lower the deficit and create jobs, and is supported by both business and labor groups across the country. Since the Senate passed their bipartisan proposal last summer, I have consistently called on Speaker Boehner to bring our House plan to the floor for a vote. I will continue working with my colleagues in Washington and people throughout San Diego as we push for an end to this unnecessary delay.”
Congressman Charles B. Rangel, (NY-13):
"Our current immigration system denies some of the hardest working people in the nation the chance to help America maintain its greatness. They salute the Stars and Stripes and deserve the same opportunity to contribute to our nation as Americans. As one of the earliest co-sponsors of the DREAM Act when it was first introduced in 2001, I will continue to fight for comprehensive immigration reform to ensure a better future for our immigrant families and of our country. I urge Republicans to stop crushing the dreams of immigrants in pursuit of success.”
Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (CA-38):
“The economic impact of passing comprehensive immigration reform is clear: we could grow our economy and reduce our deficit by $900 billion over the next two decades. Despite the moral and economic arguments and the broad coalition of support, Speaker Boehner refuses to act. His inaction is a failure in leadership and a missed opportunity to help our country prosper and grow. We urge him to allow the democratic process to work so that members have an opportunity to weigh in on H.R. 15. Every day that there is inaction on comprehensive immigration reform, more families get torn apart. The majority of the American people agree with us on this, so what is Speaker Boehner waiting for?”
Congressman Adam Schiff (CA-28):
“The Senate has already passed a strong and bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform package to reunite families, give DREAMers a way forward, and provide undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship. But the House leadership has refused to bring it up – it’s time for us to demand a vote, and that’s why I signed a discharge petition today to force consideration on the House Floor.”
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14):
“Since the majority has put the brakes on immigration reform, H.R. 15 must be wrestled out of committee and given a fair shot at passage on the House floor. Creating a path to citizenship for hard-working immigrants is good for the economy and good for the American people, most of who support this bipartisan legislation.”
Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09):
“Reforming our immigration system in a comprehensive way is incredibly important and long overdue, and H.R. 15 is a step towards doing so. I recently met with an individual who is being detained at the Northwest Detention Center in my district. He was brought to this country through no fault of his own as a young child and was raised in the Pacific Northwest. He was educated, worked, and raised a family of his own here. But when he was suspected of a crime, he was moved to the detention center. He was never charged, let alone convicted of a crime. Yet, he remains separated from his family and held in the facility. This is wrong. Our immigration system is broken. As we work to reform our immigration system, we must look to improve all aspects of it, including policies that keep families together and make it more efficient for those coming here legally. The time is now to comprehensively address our greater immigration system and create a more streamlined process.”
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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.