On the one-year anniversary of the introduction of S.744, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Michael Bennet (D-CO), all members of the Senate’s “Gang of 8,” issued the following statement:
“The success of the Gang of 8 proved that compromise, cooperation, and bipartisanship are not only possible, but also necessary to get the job done,” said the Senators. “We’re forever proud and grateful to have been part of the cohort that hammered out a strong bipartisan immigration reform effort in the Senate. Despite being so close to permanently fixing our broken system once and for all, the path forward continues to be inexcusably stalled in the House of Representatives. It is our sincere hope that House Republicans move away from extremes so that commonsense immigration reform can be finally pushed over the finish line.”
Before the Senate recessed last week, in a speech on the Senate floor, Bennet called attention to the costs that inaction on immigration has on our economy and families. He noted that it’s been more than nine months since the Senate passed the bipartisan immigration reform bill.
In his remarks, Bennet said, “Every single day the House drags its feet on immigration, our borders remain less secure, our visa system keeps us less competitive, our economy suffers, and millions of families remain in the shadows. Hard-working immigrants who came here to live the American dream and who are part of the fabric of our communities all over the State of Colorado and all over the United States of America are suffering because Congress has not passed a bill.”