WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two more House Republicans signed on today to a discharge petition that, if successful, will present Congress with an opportunity to advance urgently needed legislative solutions for Dreamers.
Reps. John Katko (R-New York) and David Trott (R-Michigan) join 18 Republicans and two Democrats who have signed on to the petition to bring the “Queen of the Hill” rule to the House floor. Nearly all, if not all, 191 other House Democrats are likely to add their names, meaning that at least five more Republicans must sign on to reach the 218 required to invoke the rule.
The “Queen of the Hill” rule would force a vote on four bills, including the bipartisan DREAM Act and USA Act, as well as the restrictionist Securing America’s Future Act and a bill of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-Wisconsin) choice that would possibly mirror President Trump’s immigration framework.
“We applaud Republican members of Congress who are taking a constructive step to end the immigration impasse that has paralyzed Congress for far too long,” said Ali Noorani, Executive Director of the National Immigration Forum. “As the legal battle over the DACA program continues, this petition is lawmakers’ chance to end uncertainty for hundreds of thousands of Dreamers whose livelihoods and contributions are at stake.
“Debating and voting on bipartisan immigration proposals would present Congress with a historic opportunity to pass a permanent solution, which President Trump has encouraged, for individuals Speaker Ryan has vowed to protect. Now is the time to act.”