SEIU lauds Democrat leadership in House on introduction of immigration bill and urges Speaker Boehner and his counterparts to get moving
WASHINGTON, DC–(ENEWSPF)–October 2, 2013. Congressman Joe Garcia and his colleagues took action today to re-ignite immigration reform efforts in Congress by introducing a commonsense immigration bill that draws heavily from bipartisan bills in the Senate and the House.
Eliseo Medina of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) issued the following statement:
“It is encouraging to see that House Democrats are continuing to do the work they were elected to do, moving forward to fix our broken immigration system. Their willingness to do so is a tribute to their commitment to reform and the relentlessness of our immigration reform movement. Congress will have the opportunity to pass immigration reform this year and today’s action takes us closer to that moment.
“Congressman Garcia and his colleagues have shown good faith by introducing a bill that represents a bipartisan policy agenda that was crafted by Democrats and Republicans working together. Their proposal includes an earned path to citizenship, effective enforcement that is consistent with our values and needed reforms so that future immigrants come legally. If passed, it will usher in a 21st century immigration system that will strengthen our economy and democracy.
“What lies in front of Speaker Boehner and his leadership team, Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, is an opportunity to truly deliver for the American public by simply bringing immigration reform to the floor. Already, more than 20 House Republicans have expressed their support for a comprehensive immigration solution with a path to citizenship. Here now is the moment when their party can either embrace this bill or put forward sensible immigration proposals to vote. But delay or inaction is certainly not an option.
“The time for commonsense immigration reform has never been more propitious. There is a clear consensus for change that has produced a movement whose breadth and diversity has rarely been seen in American politics. This October, we will witness this broad movement for reform mobilize in Washington, DC and in more than 100 cities.
“Today, one party has stepped up with a solution and willingness to find common ground. Now, it’s up to Mr. Boehner and company to either heed the public’s call for citizenship and welcome bipartisanship or mark their page in the wrong side of American history.”
Source: seiu.org
