Velazquez Remarks on American Dream and Promise Act of 2019

Washington, D.C.­­ –Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) spoke today on the House floor in support of H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act of 2019. Velázquez authored the American Promise Act, legislation to protect recipients of Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Enforced Departure from deportation and provide them a path to citizenship.

Video of her remarks are online here. Text of her remarks are below.

"Madame Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. Let me thank Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Nadler, Chairwoman Lofgren, Lucille Roybal-Allard, and Yvette Clarke for all their work on this legislation.

"Today, because of Donald Trump's anti-immigration policies, millions of immigrants across the country live in constant fear that they will face deportation – and potentially be separated from their families. Among these immigrant communities are recipients of TPS or Temporary Protected Status – or DED, Deferred Enforced Departure.

"The portions of this bill I authored say if you have been here in the U.S. for 3 years and had or were eligible for TPS or DED in January 2017, then you can apply for Legal Permanent Residence and, from there, pursue citizenship.

"When we talk about our TPS and DED populations, we are talking about some of our most vulnerable neighbors. These are people who fled natural disasters or political violence. They came here with the heartfelt belief that the words inscribed at the base of the statue of liberty – "give me your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" – are NOT a hollow tourist attraction. Those words are a sacred American compact – etched into the character of our nation.

"And, today, as we launch "Immigrant Heritage Month," House Democrats are going to prove to the Dreamers, TPS recipients and those in the DED program the words on the base of the statue are a promise we will honor!

"Madame Speaker, those in the TPS community are our neighbors. The average TPS recipient has been in this nation for two decades – and almost a third arrived in the U.S. younger than age 18. They have built entire lives here. Many have American-born children.

"Deporting them would be cruel. It would be inhumane. It would cause enormous economic disruption. And it would not be the America that we love and we know.

"We cannot let that happen. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues – do what you know is right. Vote yes on the bill! Let's send a strong message to the world that we recognize immigrants make America…. America.

"I yield back."

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