WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Dream and Promise Act by a margin of 237-187, vital legislation that would provide an earned pathway to citizenship for more than two million Dreamers and TPS holders. FWD.us President Todd Schulte issued the following statement:

“Today, the House took a historic step forward in passing the Dream and Promise Act, vital legislation that will create an earned path to citizenship for millions of Dreamers and TPS holders who have built their lives here over decades. This vital population is deeply ingrained in communities across the United States and know this country to be home.

“We are deeply thankful to Speaker Pelosi for her leadership on this critical legislation, and to the Members who voted for it. Today’s vote is historically significant, and is an important moment for this Congress and for our country. It represents only the fourth time in more than 30 years that major immigration legislation that provides permanent protections for immigrant communities has passed even one chamber of Congress.

“History will remember the lawmakers who stood in support of a permanent legislative solution to prevent millions of lives from being upended in the country they love — but the clock is ticking. The Trump Administration is making good on their promise to fully terminate DACA, jeopardizing the futures of Dreamers who are American in all ways but on paper.

“We urge Senate Leadership to bring this meaningful legislation swiftly to a vote. Every senator should vote to provide Dreamers and TPS holders with the stability and peace of mind they desperately need. There is absolutely no reason to delay.”

Background

The Dream and Promise Act of 2019 (H.R.6) would create an earned path to citizenship for more than two million people who have contributed to American communities for decades, including DACA recipients, DACA-eligible individuals, TPS holders and DED recipients. Individuals eligible for protections under this vital legislation already contribute billions of dollars in GDP and tax revenue each year in every state across the country. Further, millions of American citizens – including an estimated 6 million U.S. citizen children – live in households that remain vulnerable to deportation unless legislation, like the Dream and Promise Act, is signed into law to protect them.