New Democrat Coalition Chair Statement on Bipartisan Queen-Of-The-Hill Rule
Today, New Democrat Coalition Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31) joined Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient Leticia Herrera to discuss the bipartisan “queen-of-the-hill” rule, which would force debate and a vote in the House on four measures to provide solutions for DACA recipients.
The DACA program has allowed nearly 800,000 immigrants who arrived in the United States as young children to live openly and contribute to their communities and the economy without fear of deportation. Dreamers contribute to our communities and boost our economy, create jobs, and raise wages for U.S. citizens. They are brave members of our military and work in every industry and at nearly each major company in America. Removing 800,000 people from the workforce would cost over $400 billion in lost GDP over the next decade.
While the current court injunction provides temporary relief to current DACA recipients only, many more young immigrants are being left behind because they are not allowed to apply for protection. Only Congress can provide certainty for Dreamers. The Queen-of-the-Hill rule is designed to let the House work and give the American people an open debate on this issue by allowing four DACA measures to come to the floor.
New Democrat Coalition Chair Rep. Himes released the following statement:
“After President Trump unilaterally ended the DACA program last September, he cast uncertainty and unrest among Americans, leaving these young people without any sense of what their futures will hold. Each day Congress fails to act, their futures hang in the balance.
“Every single Member of the New Democrat Coalition has co-sponsored this bipartisan rule, demonstrating the broad consensus for protecting Dreamers. It’s time for the House of Representatives to step up and do its job by debating and voting on a DACA solution. For our communities, our economy, and to be on the right side of history, we must vote to protect the futures of Dreamers.”
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