Standing Up for Dreamers

Floor Speech

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Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the thousands of Dreamers in my district and the 800,000 Dreamers across the country threatened with deportation due to the administration's decision to rescind DACA.

It is unconscionable that our Dreamers are now at risk of being separated from their families and removed from the only country they know as home.

In addition to the sound economic, educational, and moral arguments we are hearing today, there is another argument for DACA, one that, as a doctor, I know needs our attention. That is the public health argument.

Doing away with DACA would mean the U.S. could lose over 27,000 healthcare workers and support staff around the country. At a time when we can least afford it, we would lose nurses, physicians, EMTs, and hospital workers, people who have spent their careers making our Nation healthier and whose absence would bring our public health great harm.

That is why I cosponsored, and the House passed, H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, so that 800,000 Dreamers who work, are in school, have joined the military, or are working to improve our public health on a daily basis can live without fear of deportation.

I urge Senate Majority Leader McConnell to stop playing games and have a vote. Let's get H.R. 6 passed.

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