House Passes the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021

Press Release

Today the House Passed HR 6, The American Dream and Promise Act, which Congressman Pappas co-sponsored. This legislation will provide protections for up to 3.4 million immigrants, many of whom have spent much of their lives in the United States yet currently face significant obstacles to gaining citizenship.

"Over the last year, more than 200,000 DACA recipients have been identified as frontline workers in our collective fight against COVID-19. Dreamers are part of our American family," said Congressman Pappas. "These individuals enrich our communities, strengthen our economy, and call no other country but the United States home. It is time to provide the long overdue relief to the millions of immigrants who have lived in and contributed to our nation for decades and grant them pathway to citizenship and allow them to continue building their American dream."

Specifically, HR 6 offers a path to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status for Dreamers, (Temporary Protected Status) TPS recipients, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients. The majority of these individuals have been in the United States for much of their lives, often with work authorization and temporary protections against deportation. Five years after attaining full LPR status, individuals are then eligible to apply for citizenship, a path that is supported by nearly 75 percent of the American public. H.R. 6 promotes justice and fairness for our nation's Dreamers, and for the TPS and DED holders who fled ongoing armed conflict and other extraordinary conditions to come to this country. They have been contributing to our economy and our communities for years and are employed at high rates in industries that often struggle to find sufficient U.S. workers.

This would allow young people to earn lawful permanent residence and eventually American citizenship if they:

Came to the U.S. as children and are without lawful status;

Graduate from high school or obtain a GED;

Pursue higher education, work lawfully for at least three years, or serve in the military;

Pass security and law enforcement background checks and pay a reasonable application fee;

Demonstrate proficiency in the English language and a knowledge of United States history; and

Have not committed a felony or other serious crimes and do not pose a threat to our country.

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