CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE DEMANDS A VOTE ON COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Senior Member of the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committee, released the following statement regarding signing a discharge petition to demand a vote on H.R. 15, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act:

“With Republicans continuing to block a vote on bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation today I took action to force a vote, signing a ‘Demand A Vote’ petition on the floor of the House earlier today. The petition would force a vote on H.R. 15, the bipartisan Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, legislation that would help secure our border, protect our workers, unite our families, provide an earned pathway to citizenship, and create jobs.

“Today, I am demanding a vote on comprehensive immigration reform legislation. It is time for Speaker Boehner to stop blocking this sensible bipartisan reform, and allow a vote to create jobs, empower our small businesses, fuel innovation, reduce the deficit and energize the economy. It is time for us to fix our broken immigration system, and build a system that respects our history and our values as a nation.

“It has been almost nine months since the Senate passed its own comprehensive immigration reform legislation by an overwhelming bipartisan margin of 68-32. Comprehensive immigration reform has enjoyed widespread support from law enforcement, faith leaders, the business community and the American people.

“A report from the Congressional Budget Office released on Tuesday found that the House legislation, H.R. 15 would reduce the deficit by $900 billion over the next two decades – including $200 in the first decade alone. The bill has 200 co-sponsors, including 3 Republicans. Yet Republican leadership continues to prevent the House from holding a vote on this necessary and popular legislation.

“Today, House Democrats are launching a new feature – Dems.gov/TimeIsNow – where anyone can add their name to list if they support the #DemandAVote Petition to force the House to finally take action to fix our broken immigration system.”

###