Durbin: The Push for Immigration Reform is Not Over

WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and lead author of the Dream Act, today discussed the Senate Parliamentarian’s ruling on Senate Democrats’ proposal to allow Dreamers, TPS holders, and essential workers to apply for lawful permanent resident status via reconciliation.

During his speech, Durbin argued that due to Congressional Republicans’ continued refusal to pass meaningful, bipartisan immigration legislation, Senate Democrats will continue to push for the inclusion of immigration measures in the budget reconciliation package.

“I'm disappointed by [the Parliamentarian’s] decision, but I’m not giving up on this fight.  There are too many lives at stake.  Over the past 18 months, thousands of DACA recipients and other immigrants have saved American lives as doctors, intensive care nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists. They’ve risked their own lives for us, for our friends and loved ones. The least we can do to honor their sacrifice is give them a path to legal status in America. In the coming days, Senate Democrats will present an alternative proposal to the Senate Parliamentarian. But the fact is, we already know how essential immigrants are to America and to our economic future,” Durbin said.

Video of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s floor speech is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s floor speech is available here for TV Stations.

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