With the one-year anniversary of Senate passage of its bipartisan immigration bill approaching, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet is once again calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to take action.
“Our immigration system is broken. That’s something that both Republicans and Democrats agree on. Yet, the House of Representatives continues to drag its feet on commonsense reforms that will boost our economy and protect families.
“Almost a year ago, the Senate came together – Republicans and Democrats alike – to support a bill that secures our borders, reforms the visa system to maintain our competitiveness in the global economy, and protects workers and families. In the time since, the House has not taken action. In fact, its only real action came one year ago today with a vote to defund the DACA program that support DREAMers – kids who were brought to this country through no fault of their own and know no other country but the United States.
“Every single day the House drags its feet, our country suffers. More families are separated, more businesses can’t find the workers they need, and our economy is being held back.”
Bennet is a member of the bipartisan “Group of 8” that introduced the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013 last April following several months of discussions and negotiations with a diverse group of stakeholders. The bill secures our borders, includes a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants, makes reforms to an outdated visa system to ensure businesses have access to the workers they need, and includes important worker protections. The Senate passed the bill last June.
Bennet’s work on the bill was informed by a statewide conversation on immigration he led that produced a set of principles called the Colorado Compact. Hundreds of statewide leaders spanning the political, business, law enforcement, agricultural, civic, and religious spectrums signed the Compact.