Thousands from Calif. to U.S. Capitol demand
Congress pass ‘clean’ bipartisan Dream Act
U.S. Rep. David Valadao has already vowed to vote for the DREAM Act. So UFW Foundation, local DREAMers, community members and immigrant rights groups will gather outside his Bakersfield district office to ask him to allow a vote on the measure by signing a discharge petition one day afterRep. Michelle Lujan-Grisham, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and other House Democrats introduced the petition for the DREAM Act. The rarely used discharge petition would force a vote on the DREAM Act as is. Uncommon because it means petitioners go against the House leadership’s wishes, a discharge petition requires 218 votes to pass.
Without the discharge petition, the DREAM Act appears headed to the House Judiciary Committee chaired by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va). Goodlatte is known for his anti-immigrant views. A discharge petition is needed to prevent a non-vote or a bill filled with discriminatory amendments and riders that have little or no relationship to the original proposal.
UFW Foundation and the other groups are calling on Rep. Valadao, who cosponsored the DREAM Act, to take the extra step by signing onto the discharge petition to ensure the legislation isn’t stalled and is voted on as is. They are also asking the congressman to encourage his colleagues to do the same. Advocates will communicate to him that “We know if you sign the discharge petition, you can vote on the DREAM Act. Our community will check daily with the Clerk of the House for the names of Members of Congress who signed this official petition allowing a vote on the DREAM Act. We hope to find your signature.”
Many lawmakers from both parties are voicing support for the 800,000 DACA program recipients since President Trump announced he would end DACA. The DREAM Act is an opportunity to protect those who qualified or would have qualified under DACA. Unlike DACA, the DREAM Act would also provide them with a pathway to citizenship.
The UFW Foundation and national immigrant rights organizations are visiting other members of the House, especially those with large numbers of Latino constituents in their district or those who have expressed support for the DREAM Act.
Who: UFW Foundation, UFW, Dolores Huerta Foundation, CHIRLA, CARECEN and community leaders and families.
What: DREAMers and community members will gather outside Rep. David Valadao’s district office to share personal stories of being impacted by the DACA rescission. Then they will lead a delegation into Valadao’s office asking him to sign onto the congressional discharge petition so the DREAM Act can be brought to a vote on the House floor.
Where: Rep. Valadao District Office, 2700 M Street, Bakersfield 93301.
When: 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017.
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