American Dream and Promise Act of 2021
Floor Speech
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Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 233, I call up the bill (H.R. 6) to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain aliens, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
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Mr. NADLER. 6.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021, is vital legislation that establishes a path to lawful permanent resident, or LPR, status for two critically important populations that are in dire need of protection.
The Dream Act creates an earned path to LPR status for Dreamers, individuals who entered the United States in their youth and who have lived here for most of their lives. Dreamers are part of the fabric of our Nation, aptly demonstrated by their commitment to bettering our country through the pursuit of education, military service, and employment.
It is undeniable that Dreamers enrich our Nation. They are our neighbors and coworkers, they are classmates with our children, and they serve in our military with distinction. They are an essential part of our communities, where they contribute to our thriving economy and make America a stronger, more united, and more diverse Nation.
Similarly, the American Dream and Promise Act provides a path to LPR status for individuals who either held, or were eligible for temporary protective status, TPS, as of January 1, 2017; or deferred enforced departure, DED, as of January 20, 2021.
TPS is a form of humanitarian relief provided to individuals from countries experiencing dangerous conditions and crises. DED is like TPS, but it is derived solely from the President's constitutional powers to conduct foreign relations.
Like Dreamers, TPS and DED recipients are essential to our communities. Many of them have lived in the United States for decades. They make up a significant portion of the workforce in key industries, including construction, food service, and home healthcare. They contribute to the U.S. economy, not only through their work, but also through consumer spending and tax revenue, and they have been particularly essential in serving our country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I have no doubt that some of my Republican colleagues will stand before us today and use what they claim is a crisis at the border as an excuse not to support this bill. But let's get one thing straight, this legislation is not about the border, this legislation is about finally delivering on our promise to America's Dreamers and others who are equally deserving of our protection.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Nydia Velazquez, and Yvette Clarke, for their commitment to this important legislation, and to the millions of people this legislation will protect.
I hope that all my colleagues will stand up for them when it truly counts and will support H.R. 6 today.
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Mr. NADLER. Roybal-Allard).
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Mr. NADLER. Lofgren).
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Mr. NADLER. Jayapal).
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Mr. NADLER. Escobar).
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Mr. NADLER. Jackson Lee).
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, the FBI and the Secretary of Homeland Security said the greatest threat to America is domestic terrorism, White racism, white supremacy, not babies who have come here innocently and through no fault of their own.
I rise with great enthusiasm to support H.R. 6 and to join my colleague, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, in her work. For two decades, we have stood alongside each other.
The American Dream and Promise Act provides immigrant youth and current or potential holders of temporary protected status or deferred enforced departure the opportunity to become citizens.
This is the very same person. This person, his name is Alonso Guillen. He was a DACA. He died coming to Houston during Hurricane Harvey trying to save lives. Cesar Espinosa, who organized a civil rights organization, is a DACA recipient, and the EMS person who worked with us during Hurricane Harvey, or Liberians on deferred status, and TPS persons.
Let me just say, support this because it is the right thing to do. They are not terrorists. It is not amnesty.
Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, as an original cosponsor of legislation to extend the full promise of America to Dreamers, and a representative of a state on the southern border, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6, the ``American Dream and Promise Act of 2019,'' and the underlying legislation.
The American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 establishes a roadmap to U.S. citizenship for (1) immigrant youth and (2) current or potential holders of (a) temporary protected status (TPS) or (b) deferred enforced departure (DED).
Ensuring a path to earned citizenship is a non-negotiable principle for me and the sine qua non of meaningful immigration reform legislation.
Indeed, providing a path to earned access to citizenship has been a central feature of every comprehensive immigration reform bill I have co-sponsored or sponsored in the Congress since 2007 when I became Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and introduced the ``Save America Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, (H.R. 1525),'' which I have reintroduced in each succeeding Congress.
Like H.R. 6, Section 501 of my legislation provides a path to earned legalization status to those undocumented immigrants who have resided in the United States for 5 years and meet other eligibility requirements.
Mr. Speaker, as we stand today on the precipice of passing the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019, I am thinking of the hundreds of thousands of young immigrants whose lives will be changed for the better by keeping our promise to them, so they can realize their dreams and making America better, stronger, and more prosperous.
And at this moment, I am thinking of Alonso Guillen, an heroic DREAMER who lived in my congressional district, and who came to the United States from Mexico as a child and died when his boat capsized while he was rescuing survivors of the flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey in the Houston area.
That is the type of courage, honor, and commitment to service we are talking when we speak of DREAMERS.
Mr. Speaker, Title I of H.R. 6, the Dream Act of 2019, contains provisions regarding relief for immigrant youth.
Title II of the bill, American Promise Act of 2019, contains provisions related to persons eligible Temporary Protected Stats (TPS) or Deferred Enforcement Departure; the third and final title contains general provisions that apply to both Titles I & II).
Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 6 because it keeps America's word to the more than 800,000 young people we asked to come out of the shadows and walk proudly and unashamedly as legitimate members of the American community.
The legislation does this by providing conditional permanent resident (CPR) status and a roadmap to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status and, eventually, earned U.S. citizenship for immigrant youth who entered the U.S. before age 18, have four or more years of residency, and graduated from high school (or the equivalent).
H.R. 6 also provides an opportunity to apply for LPR status for people who currently have or who may be eligible for TPS or DED and who have three or more years of residency.
Mr. Speaker, individuals who are eligible for protection under the bill have lived in the United States for much of their lives; the average Dreamer came to the United States at the age of 8, while the average TPS- or OED-eligible person arrived in 1997.
Without permanent protections such as those in H.R. 6, the future of these immigrants, and their families, are at risk in the United States--as well as the fiscal and economic contributions they make.
Passing this legislation is the right thing to do and now is the time to do it; in fact, it is long overdue.
I am mindful also, Mr. Speaker, that in addition to helping restore America's reputation as the most welcoming nation on earth, the legislation the House will pass also positions America to better compete and win in the global economy of the 21st century.
According to expert studies, including one by the Center for American Progress, ending deferred action for childhood arrivals would result in a loss of $460.3 billion from the national GDP over the ensuing decade and would remove an estimated 685,000 workers from the nation's economy and workforce at a time when more, not fewer, workers are desperately needed.
And 10 states, including my home state of Texas, would stand to lose more than $8 billion annually in state GDP.
Mr. Speaker, immigrants eligible for protection under H.R. 6 are part of Texas's social fabric.
Texas is home to 386,300 immigrants who are eligible for protection under the Dream and Promise Act, 112,000 of whom reside in Harris County.
These individuals live with 845,300 family members and among those family members, 178,700 are U.S.-born citizen children.
Dreamers in Texas who are eligible for protection under the bill arrived in the United States at the average age of 8.
TPS- and DED-eligible immigrants in Texas who would be eligible for protection under H.R. 6 have on average lived in the United States since 1996.
Immigrants eligible for the Dream and Promise Act own 43,500 homes in Texas and pay $340,500,000 in annual mortgage payments.
Eligible immigrants in Texas and their households contribute $2,234,800,000 in federal taxes and $1,265,200,000 in state and local taxes each year.
Annually, these households generate $10,519,000,000 in spending power in Texas and help power the national economy.
Mr. Speaker, let me highlight some of the more important provisions of the American Dream and Promise Act.
H.R. 6 helps young persons in the following ways:
1. Extends the length of conditional permanent resident (CPR) status from eight to ten years to give applicants more time to fulfill requirements;
2. Stays the removal of minors who are not yet eligible for relief but may become eligible in the future and who temporarily unenroll from school;
3. Permits people with CPR to obtain legal permanent resident (LPR) status without satisfying the employment, military, or educational tracks if their deportation would cause ``hardship'' to themselves or immediate family members (instead of ``extreme hardship'');
4. Includes apprenticeship programs as a qualifying education to obtain CPR status;
5. Eliminates the costly medical examination for applicants;
6. Establishes a fee ceiling of $495 for immigrant youth applying for CPR status;
7. Clarifies that people with CPR can access professional, commercial, and business licenses;
8. Permits people with CPR who obtain a certificate or credential from an area career and technical education school to obtain LPR status; and
9. Updates the criminal background bars and inadmissibility requirements.
Additionally, H.R. 6 provides LPR status to CPR holders who (1) serve in the uniformed services for two years; (2) complete two years at or obtain a degree from an institution of higher education; or (3) work 75 percent of the time in CPR.
Another important feature of this legislation is that makes it easier for states to provide in-state tuition to immigrant students and establishes that CPR-holders are eligible for federal loans, work study, services, and grants.
For persons with TPS or DED status, the American Dream and Promise Act provides much needed relief.
First, H.R. 6 provides LPR status for people with TPS or DED (and those who were eligible but did not apply) who apply within three years from the date of enactment if they (1) had at least three years of continuous residence (as well as residence since the date required the last time that the person's nation of origin was designated) and (2) were eligible for or had (a) TPS on September 25, 2016, or (b) DED on September 28, 2016.
This protection covers nationals of 13 countries: El Salvador, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, Liberia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
I believe similar protections should be extended to Guatemalan nationals in our country, which is why I will soon reintroduce the ``Continue American Safety Act,'' which extends TPS status to Guatemala and I look forward to working with my colleagues to achieve this outcome.
Second, H.R. 6 classifies people with TPS or DED as inspected and admitted for the purposes of Immigration & Nationality Act (INA) section 245(a), making it easier to obtain LPR status through existing channels (e.g., a family-based petition).
Third, H.R. 6 stays the removal or deportation of an individual while an application is pending.
Fourth, the American Dream and Promise Act establishes a fee ceiling of $1,140 for people with TPS or DED applying for LPR status.
Fifth, the legislation provides greater transparency by requiring the Secretary of the Homeland Security (DHS) to provide an explanation for and report within three days of publishing notice to terminate TPS designation for certain nationals.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6 is exceptional legislation and a welcome development but is not a substitute for undertaking the comprehensive reform and modernization of the nation's immigration laws supported by the American people.
Only Congress can do that and passage of H.R. 6 shows that this House has the will and is up to the challenge.
Comprehensive immigration reform is desperately needed to ensure that Lady Liberty's lamp remains the symbol of a land that welcomes immigrants to a community of immigrants and does so in a manner that secures our borders and protects our homeland.
Mr. Speaker, let us build on the historic legislation that is the American Dream and Promise Act and seize the opportunity to pass legislation that secures our borders, preserves America's character as the most open and welcoming country in the history of the world, and will yield hundreds of billions of dollars in economic growth.
I urge all Members to join me in voting for H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021.
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stanton).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of the House.
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Jones).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the distinguished gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Correa).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 45 seconds to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu).
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Mr. NADLER. I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke).
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, as an original co-lead of this legislation, I rise today in support of the bill that is near and dear to my heart, H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act.
As the proud daughter of Jamaican immigrants, I understand the need for the American Dream and Promise Act, and more importantly, we need a humane and dignified 21st century immigration system. Comprehensive immigration reform is what is required.
Let me be very clear, crystal clear: Our immigration system is broken, and the time has come for the values of our Nation to be reflected in our immigration policy.
However, this is not just a moral issue. It is an economic one, as well. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, essential workers are the lifeblood of our economy. They have risked their lives during a global pandemic to serve, support, and protect American communities. We have relied on them during this crisis, and it is time to give them a way out of the shadows.
Let's pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act. Let's see it through the Senate, and let's get it signed into law.
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Leger Fernandez).
Ms. LEGER FERNANDEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise for every child who was ever raised in this beautiful country but told they are not American; for every Dreamer who has lived in fear that they will be forced from the only home they have ever known.
Madam Speaker, Dreamers are teachers, students, and healthcare workers. They feed us, care for us, and inspire us. They strengthen our economy. Now is the moment. We must give them the same opportunities and protections that they deserve as Americans.
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Garcia).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentleman from California.
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, how much time do we have remaining?
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi).
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Mr. NADLER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
We do have a crisis in this country: the crisis consists of a shortage of workers. As our birth rate goes down, as our aging goes up, we have fewer and fewer workers. And since economists tell us that the number of workers is what produces prosperity, this is a crisis for the country.
Fortuitously, we have a situation where we have several million people in this country who are Americans, who have lived almost their entire lives in America, who, as was mentioned before, find out they weren't born in this country only when they apply for a driver's license when they are 18 years old. They are a resource for this country, and they ought to be legalized, which is what this bill does, so that we can utilize their talents properly and remain under rule of law.
Madam Speaker, organizations, associations, and industry leaders from across the political spectrum support passage of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021. They include among them: United We Dream, Service Employees International, the AFL-CIO--and these unions do not fear competition, they know it is good--the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Chamber of Commerce, Apple, and the National Education Association.
After closing the books on 4 years of disastrous and inhumane immigration policies, today we begin a new chapter, one based on compassion, reason, and the fundamental values we hold dear as Americans.
Passage of H.R. 6 is long overdue. Today's vote will dictate the future of millions of Dreamers and recipients of the TPS and DED and will greatly help the economy of this country.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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