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Panetta Urges House Leadership to Allow Vote on DREAM Act

September 25, 2017

Signs Discharge Petition to Force Consideration of Bipartisan Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) signed a discharge petition to force consideration of H.R. 3440, the DREAM Act of 2017. H.R. 3440 is a bipartisan bill that would permanently protect DREAMers and allow them to remain and work legally in the United States. If the discharge petition is signed by a simple majority of Members in the House of Representatives (218 Members), it would force this critical piece of legislation to be brought to the Floor of the House for a vote.

"The reality is that in order to protect DREAMers, the majority needs to bring legislation to the floor of the House of Representatives," said Congressman Panetta. "It is my hope that by signing this discharge petition, my colleagues and I on both sides of the aisle will be able to vote on this bipartisan, permanent solution that ensures DREAMers can continue to contribute to our strong communities and great country. These kids, who were brought here as children through no fault of their own, including a number I met with on the Central Coast, deserve to no longer live in fear of being deported from the only home that they have ever known. When the President decided to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or the DACA program, he put 800,000 lives in limbo. The DREAM Act is a direct response to the president's call for Congress to pass a replacement before he begins phasing out the DACA program. The DREAM Act must pass without delay."

On September 5, the Trump Administration announced its decision to end the DACA program with a six-month delay. On September 9, Congressman Panetta held a roundtable at Hartnell College with thirty DREAMers, who are currently enrolled in the DACA program. The DREAMers he met with told him about their families, their lives, and their hard work to be a part of and positively contribute to our community. He took the DREAMers' questions, listened to how the DACA program has positively impacted their lives, and heard their concerns about the end of the program as it stands. Congressman Panetta has since held other roundtables and meetings with nonprofit organizations and individuals to learn about how the DREAM Act would positively impact our communities. California is home to 1 in 4 of the nation's total DACA population, and an estimated 20,000 DREAMers currently live in California's 20th congressional district.

Issues:Immigration