Washington, D.C. – Today, Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet joined Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and 25 Senate Democrats in introducing the Protect American Values Act, legislation that would prohibit the Trump Administration from using federal funding to implement its Public Charge rule. Scheduled to go into effect on October 15, 2019, the Public Charge rule would make legal immigrants – including those on student and work visas – ineligible for permanent residence if they use certain safety-net programs, and aims to prevent immigrants from coming to the United States based on their wealth, family size, age, skills, level of education, or ability to speak English.
“Since coming to office, President Trump has waged an all-out assault on America’s immigrant tradition. The administration has made a policy of cruelty,” said Bennet. “This move is the latest example, stoking fear in immigrant communities and forcing people to make an impossible choice between the health and well-being of their families and their future immigration status. This bill sends a clear message that we will not stand for yet another blatant attack on our immigrant communities.”
In addition to Bennet and Hirono, the Protect American Values Act has 25 Senate co-sponsors, including: Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM).
A copy of the bill text is available HERE.