Schumer Floor Remarks Calling on McConnell and Ryan to Bring DREAM Act to the Floor

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer today delivered remarks on the Senate floor calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan to put a clean DREAM Act up for a vote. Below are his remarks:

Yesterday, the Trump Administration made a terribly wrong decision to terminate the DACA program.

The Dreamers came to this country through no fault of their own, many know no other country but this one, and they work every single day in our businesses, they go to our schools, and they serve in our military. They are a boon to our economy. All they want is to live, work, and contribute to this country.

Like generations before, they want to be Americans. As so many people do, because we are such a great country.

Congress has the ability, and I believe the responsibility to act -- to protect these Dreamers before the programs completely terminates in 6 months. Why not do it right now? President Trump has called on Congress to act. So why don’t we?

I’d ask my friend the Majority Leader and Speaker Ryan to put a clean DREAM Act on the floor of both chambers in September. Every Democrat is ready to vote for that legislation. We know many Republicans in both chambers would vote for it as well. It would likely pass without much fuss.

But Mr. President, if we can’t get that to happen, we will add it to legislative vehicles that are moving, until we get it done. It is that important to us, and to America.

We could solve this problem tomorrow, rather than letting the fear of deportation hang over the heads of 800,000 Dreamers who are studying, working, and some in the military, serving in the United States today.

So I'd like to again say to Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan, put a clean DREAM Act on the floor. In a bipartisan vote, this body, and I believe the House, is ready to pass it.

Now, Mr. President, in a short time, Leader McConnell, Speaker Ryan, Leader Pelosi and I will head to the White House to meet with President Trump.

We have a lot we need to get done this month: an extension of government funding, raising the debt ceiling, passing aid for the victims of Hurricane Harvey, and protecting the Dreamers.

So far, we Democrats haven’t heard much in the way of plan to accomplish all of these goals from the Republican Leadership, who hold the majority in both houses of Congress as well as the Presidency. I hope that this changes this morning, and I look forward to hearing the President’s plan and the Republican Majority’s plan for accomplishing all the things that Congress must accomplish in September.