Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) voted to pass H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, and H.R. 1603, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, to secure permanent protections and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have been, and will continue to be, critical to the economic recovery of our nation. H.R. 6 provides relief to Dreamers, as well as to many Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) holders, and H.R. 1603 provides stability, predictability, and fairness to the workers who feed America.
"I was proud to cast my vote today to protect Dreamers, TPS holders, those covered by DED, and farmworkers to provide these individuals with a long overdue pathway to citizenship and opportunity to fulfill the promise of the American Dream," Napolitano said. "Risking their own lives throughout the pandemic as essential frontline workers to keep our country healthy, fed, and moving, these brave immigrants have again proven how indispensable they are to our economy, our communities, and our way of life. Our Hispanic Caucus has worked tirelessly on both bills, and while today's vote is a victory for thousands of immigrants in my district and millions across the U.S., we are far from the finish line. As we implore the Senate to follow suit and do what is right for these individuals and for our country, we will take additional legislative action to create an immigration system that is humane, fair, and efficient. I will do all I can to ensure that people of all creeds, backgrounds, and nationalities continue to comprise our great country, and that we as a nation embrace and celebrate this diversity, honoring our heritage as a proud nation of immigrants."
H.R. 6, The American Dream and Promise Act
Establishes a path to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status for Dreamers and for certain individuals who either held or were eligible for TPS or DED. 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 and who 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.
H.R. 1603, The Farm Workforce Modernization Act
Stabilizes the agricultural sector and preserves our rural heritage by ensuring that farmers can meet their labor needs by establishing a program for agricultural workers, their spouses and minor children can earn legal Certified Agricultural Worker (CAW) status through continued agricultural employment. H.R. 1603 also reforms the H-2A temporary agricultural worker program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers. And to ensure a legal workforce for the agriculture sector, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act establishes a mandatory, nationwide E-Verify system to ensure compliance with the reformed H-2A visa program while also protecting workers' due process rights.
H.R. 6 and H.R. 1603 both passed the House with bipartisan support and now move to the Senate for consideration.