Business Leaders and Dreamers Welcome House Passage of Dream and Promise Act of 2021
CHICAGO, IL — Today, the House of Representatives passed the Dream and Promise Act of 2021 by a vote of 228 to 197, with 9 republicans voting in favor to create a pathway to citizenship for more than 2.5 million Dreamers and TPS holders to help our economy get back on track.
The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) thanks the Democratic congressional delegation including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Roybal-Allard as well as the 9 Republicans who crossed party lines to vote for this sensible, common-sense legislation: Rep. Fred Upton, Rep. Mario Diaz Balart, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, Rep. Don Bacon, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rep. Dan Newhouse, Rep. Chris Smith and Rep. David Valadao.
The bill goes now to the Senate where a growing caucus of GOP senators have voiced support for legalizing Dreamers, including Lindsay Graham, John Cornyn (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rick Scott (R-FL) and Mike Rounds (R-SD).
Support for legalizing Dreamers has grown since its introduction 20 years ago — 79% of all voters and 69% of Trump voters support legalizing Dreamers. The Dream Act is economically important and critical to our recovery. Dreamers have been on the frontlines of the pandemic response. Almost 200,000 are essential workers with almost 30,000 healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses. 93 percent of Dreamers are employed, pay close to $10 billion in taxes, and carry nearly $20 billion in spending power. Nearly 40,000 Dreamers started businesses and created jobs for American workers.
John Rowe, Exelon Chairman Emeritus and ABIC Co-Chair, said:
“We are thankful to Speaker Pelosi, Representative Roybal Ballard, and the 9 Republican Congressional members of the House who voted to give certainty to Dreamers and their employers as we rebuild and recover from this pandemic. Now it’s time for the Senate to move in a bipartisan fashion to correct an injustice that has left hundreds of thousands of young people in limbo, unable to plan for their future and fully contribute to their communities. It’s time for Senators to show courage and meet the challenge head on. Supporting dreamers is moral and popular. It’s also economically important and politically smart.”
Andrea Ramos Fernandez, DACA recipient and Communications Coordinator at ABIC, said:
“As a DACA recipient, I am hopeful that today’s passage of the Dream and Promise Act with support from both parties is a sign of what’s to come in the Senate. The Dream Act will bring certainty to our lives while helping to rebuild and repair our economy so that we can all thrive. Undocumented youth, like me, want the opportunity to prove we are part of America. Our leaders must come together in a bipartisan fashion to protect Dreamers NOW.”
About
The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) promotes commonsense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens.
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