Rep. Schneider Supports Measure to Force a Vote on Immigration Reform

Press Release

U.S. Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) signed a discharge petition today to force a vote on the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill introduced in the House. If a majority of Members sign the petition, the House would be required to consider the legislation.

Rep. Schneider helped introduce the bipartisan immigration reform bill (HR 15), which would strengthen border security, increase visas for skilled workers and provide a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the country.

"Our current immigration system is broken and holding back our country's economic potential," Schneider said. "Instead of moving the ball forward after the Senate passed bipartisan immigration reform, the House has yet to hold a single vote on comprehensive immigration reform. That's why I signed a discharge petition to force a vote on this bipartisan measure that will save our country $200 billion over the next decade, help us grow our economy and better compete in the 21st Century global economy."

Rep. Schneider has been outspoken in favor of comprehensive immigration reform. In January, he invited Estefania Garcia, a DREAMer from Highwood, to the President's State of the Union address to highlight the urgent need for immigration reform. He also urged Speaker Boehner to address immigration reform and held a roundtable discussion with Senator Dick Durbin and leaders from the business community to highlight the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that comprehensive immigration reform would save $200 billion over a decade. [Congressional Budget Office, Accessed 3/26/14]

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