Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., pressed his Republican colleagues in the House to stand up to their leadership and force a vote on legislation that would provide legal status for so-called “Dreamers.”
“Where the rubber meets the road,” he said Thursday, “is when you take on the leaders of your own party in order to achieve a bipartisan goal.”
More than 50 Republicans have signed on to a “Queen of the Hill” rule to bring a series of immigration bills to the floor and the entire Democratic caucus is expected to back it. That brings total support to roughly 237 members, more than the 218 needed to force a vote without House Speaker Paul Ryan’s consent.
But the Republicans supporting the rule, led by Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., have said they don’t want to file a discharge petition to force the vote right now.
Gutierrez urged them to put “skin in the game” and file the petition.
“Your country needs you,” Gutierrez said. “Right now, today. We need your courage in addition to your signature. Sign a discharge petition to bring about a vote on immigration solutions for Dreamers.”
The petition would bring forward multiple proposals that would provide a pathway to citizenship for recipients of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program. The bill with the most votes would be adopted, assuming it gets a majority.
“A discharge petition says you are willing to expend your personal reputation and political capital to do what is right and what is necessary in this time of great hatred and divisiveness at the highest levels over immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers,” Gutierrez said.
