Authorizing the Speaker to Appear as Amicus Curiae on Behalf of the House

Floor Speech

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Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my support for the President's executive actions on immigration to expand the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the creation of the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) program.

Soon, the Supreme Court will consider U.S. v. Texas, the case concerning President Obama's executive actions on immigration to extend temporary relief from deportation for undocumented immigrants who arrived in the U.S. when they were children and eligible parents of American citizens or legal permanent residents. These crucial programs have been halted as this litigation continues and our families, our businesses, and our economy hang in the balance.

Today, the House Republicans brought a polarizing resolution to the floor authorizing the Speaker to file an anti-immigrant amicus brief with the Supreme Court opposing these executive actions. I am disappointed that House Republicans are attempting to block the President's executive actions on immigration from taking effect.

The President acted to keep hard-working immigrant families together and to ensure that DREAMERS can continue to live in the only country they've ever known. As co-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Immigration Task Force, I'm hopeful that the Supreme Court will recognize the legality and importance of President Obama's executive actions for our immigrant families. We compromise our nation's family values when we tear apart families and instill fear and mistrust among communities.

With so much at stake, we can't rely on the courts to correct this injustice. America deserves a fair and just immigration system, and our hard-working immigrant families have waited long enough. It's time for Congress to do its job and pass comprehensive immigration reform immediately.

Ms. LINDA T. SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H. Res. 639, a misguided resolution forced on all Members of the House of Representatives in an attempt to block President Obama's execution action on immigration. This is yet another partisan effort by House Republicans to tear families apart and separate children from their parents.

This amicus brief that Speaker Ryan will file on behalf of the entire House of Representatives not only goes against well-established Constitutional precedents but also against our economic interest. The Congressional Budget Office and numerous other researchers have found that immigration raises average wages for U.S. born workers and grows our economy by billions of dollars. In my State of California alone, the President's Executive action will generate 130,000 jobs and lift 40,000 Californian children out of poverty.

The actions taken by the President on the subject of immigration are within authority of the executive branch. I am proud to join 186 of my House colleagues in support of the President's immigration executive actions.

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