Adriano Espaillat

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. As a father, as a grandfather, as a human being who cares about children, I ask: For God's sake, America, what is happening to your soul? There are 11,000 children who are being held in jail cells throughout the country. Families arriving at the border seeking asylum voluntarily, seeking refuge voluntarily, are being detained, and they are being held in jail. Children as young as the children here today-- as young as the children here today--are being held in jail. Babies are being separated from their mothers, even while breastfeeding them. This constitutes child abuse. Madam Speaker, show some basic compassion for these young children, their brothers and sisters and their parents. Every single Member of Congress should be able to stand behind the simple idea that families, regardless of where they are born, belong together. I know that Jesus of Nazareth was a refugee, and he paid the ultimate price. Madam Speaker, this is a historic fight for the soul of our Nation, whether we remain a nation of aspirations or we become a nation of deportation. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez).

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and commemorate Dr. Jose Francisco Pena Gomez on the 20th anniversary of his passing. From his lifetime of service, Dr. Pena Gomez will, without question, be recorded in history as a civil rights icon to the marginalized Afro- Latino community and advocate for the poor. Dr. Pena Gomez personified his motto, ``Primero la gente,'' or ``The People First,'' serving as Mayor of Santo Domingo, vice president of the International Socialist Party for the Western Hemisphere, president of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, and twice nominated for the Presidency of the Dominican Republic. Dr. Pena Gomez was a fierce proponent of free speech and denounced unfair election practices in the Dominican Republic and around the world. He was fervent in his condemnation of civil and human rights violations in Latin America. The largest airport in Santo Domingo bears his name and welcomes people from all over the world. It is my pleasure and great honor to celebrate the life of Dr. Pena Gomez with his family and those who fondly remember his model and standard. Primero la gente.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and commemorate Dr. Jose Francisco Pena Gomez on the 20th anniversary of his passing. Throughout his life, Dr. Pena Gomez was a lifelong public servant who spoke up for the marginalized and often disenfranchised Afro-Latino community from the Dominican Republic; a community and dichotomy intrinsic to all Caribbean and Latin American nations. It cannot be understated how transcendent Dr. Pena Gomez remains in the Dominican Republic to have served as Mayor of Santo Domingo; Vice President of the International Socialist Party for the Western Hemisphere; President of the Dominican Revolutionary Party, and twice nominated for the Presidency of the Dominican Republic. But his legacy is not just limited to the Dominican Republic. Dr. Pena Gomez spent his life campaigning for democracy, progressive public policies, free speech and national sovereignty in the Caribbean and Latin America, and greater international community. Through his global education and activism, Dr. Pena Gomez became a friend and partner with elected leaders and luminaries such as Nobel Peace Prize Winner Willy Brandt; U.S. Representative Charles B. Rangel, U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy; French President Francois Mitterrand; U.S. President Jimmy Carter; and Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez Marquez. ``The People First!'' (La gente primero) was a mantra that Dr. Pena Gomez personified. He never relented in furthering himself and others from the Dominican Republic. His passion for public service in government was a result of his political activism with the Dominican Revolutionary Party and lived experience as an Afro-Latino. As an activist, he loudly voiced his opposition to military intervention in the Dominican Republic; was a fierce proponent of free speech; and denounced unfair elections practices that undermined democracy. Dr. Pena Gomez worked feverishly to advocate for dual-citizenship for Dominican nationals living abroad. He was a global advocate for the indigent and his fervent condemnation of civil and human rights violations in the Dominican Republic never waned. From his lifetime of service, Dr. Pena Gomez will, without question, be recorded in history as a civil rights icon and advocate for the poor in the Dominican Republic. He was never afraid to speak out against racism and invective directed towards him. He rose above the racism and hatred and in his own words said, ``I am a human being who has experienced many vicissitudes . . . I was born in an era of conflicts. I have two sets of parents and two families. One is by blood, and the other is the result of cohabitation. But both are dear to me.'' It is my pleasure and great honor to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Jose Francisco Pena Gomez with his family and those who fondly remember his model and standard.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, it is with the utmost respect and solemnity that I recognize and honor the life and service of New York Police Department (NYPD) Detective Miosotis P. Familia. Detective Familia grew up in Washington Heights in Manhattan and began her service with the NYPD in 2005. During her 12-year career she served the City of New York with the 42nd and 46th Precincts in the Bronx. On July 5, 2017, Detective Familia lost her life while on duty in the Bronx in an unrepentant criminal act of the highest order. Her family; her friends; her neighbors; her community members; and her NYPD colleagues recognized in every action that Detective Familia was fundamentally good and that she always stood for the benefit and needs of everyone else before her own. Joining the NYPD was a lifelong goal that she fought tirelessly for and never stopped working towards. It is this dedication to public service; this driving motivation to working as hard as possible on behalf of her community exemplifies the American Dream. Detective Familia embodied someone who was selfless and who put the needs of New York City residents first. Shield Number 7370. This number and badge on which is etched are intrinsic to Detective Familia and fundamental to her person, but reflect one part of her life and legacy. Detective Familia's spirit remains in her Mother, her children, her siblings, and extended family. Detective Familia's legacy lives on through her family and the present and future Officers of the NYPD and New York Dominican Officers Association. Memorialized today among other dedicated public servants and in the company of her loved ones and peers, I want to recognize and celebrate Detective Familia. As her daughter Genesis said so beautifully ``My mom, she is protector, defender, guidance counselor, spiritual advisor, philosopher, philanthropist, theorist, and mother.'' NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill, Jr. said ``Your mom's legacy will never fade from the importance of memory. Your mom made it her mission to make your home, New York City, a better and safer place for everyone.'' He continued ``And I vow to you, we will continue to find our way forward in her honor, because that's what cops do.'' Be it public service of all forms; joining the esteemed ranks of law enforcement; or as she did with her unique brand of community partnership and engagement, we must honor and stand united in the memory and standard of Detective Familia.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of New York City Police Department Detective Miosotis Familia. Unfortunately, Miosotis was the first Dominican-American female officer killed in the line of duty in New York City. During National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day, I want to celebrate and commemorate Detective Familia. She, along with her law enforcement peers in New York and across the country, was memorialized at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. Detective Familia, as a Dominican-American coming from a family of immigrants to the United States, and her commitment to public service speaks volumes of the benefits and sacrifice that she and fellow immigrants and people of color continue to make in the United States, despite the overwhelming anti-immigrant rhetoric that exists in today's political climate. Immigrant communities continue to play a vital role in every aspect of American life. As the first Dominican-American elected to Congress, I understand that service to country and community is not limited by one race or ethnicity, as did Defective Familia. I have represented the Familia family for over 22 years, both in the State legislature and now in Congress. This is a somber moment, but one that demands our recognition of the tremendous service that Detective Familia gave to her community.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize David ``Big Papi'' Ortiz who to this day stands as among the most feared hitters in Major League Baseball. His success as a player began with his journey from his home--our home--the Dominican Republic. It was Pedro Martinez, his fellow Dominican teammate on the Boston Red Sox, who said of David Ortiz, that ``A guy from a shack in the Dominican lifted up the hearts of an entire city.'' No For all the fame and glory that ``Big Papi'' epitomized as No. 34, in Boston, his career began as No. 27 with the Minnesota Twins. His ascension to the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins was one measure of professional success, it was not permanent. Returning to the Dominican Republic and then the encouragement from his fellow countrymen that followed lent perspective that whatever happens-- however challenging on its face--presents opportunity. That new opportunity for unmatched success and a storied career in baseball began with the Boston Red Sox in 2003. In the Dominican Republic, baseball is beloved. When anyone Dominican succeeds, we all succeed. And yes, we celebrate those successes. What we celebrate is that in each generation, there becomes more permanent a sense that no matter where you are born or whether you lived in a shack, you can succeed. It means that anyone born in Santo Domingo, Manoguayabo, Nizao, Laguna Verde, San Pedro de Macoris, Hato Mayor, Altamira, Villa Gonzalez, Monte Cristi, or Samana can look to David Ortiz and know that they too can emulate his resilience and fortitude and achieve his degree of success and beyond. In recognizing David Ortiz, I would be remiss to not share his professional accolades. While some came at the expense of MY New York Yankees, no one can deny his dominance: 7x Edgar Martinez Outstanding DH of The Year; 7x American League Silver Slugger; 10x American League All-Star; 2011 Roberto Clemente Award Winner; 2x American League Hank Aaron Award Winner. And then there is the Post-Season: 2004 American League Champion Series Most Valuable Player; 3x Major League Baseball World Series Champion; and 2013 World Series Most Valuable Player. And it all began after graduating from Estudia Espaillat High School. I end with the inimitable words of Pedro Martinez, ``Whether you loved David or hated him, he gave you everything to love or hate. He was a force of nature. He was a big brother to a lot of Latin players . . . Nobody--none of the other players from the Dominican, including me--does more for society than David. He's a better man than he is a baseball player.'' As the first Dominican American elected to the U.S. Congress, it is my distinct pleasure to celebrate David Ortiz--``Big Papi''--for all his success.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Semana Dominicana, Dominican Week, to recognize the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic. Since this organization was founded in 1923, its members and partners in the Dominican Republic and the United States have grown in scale, and the diversity of its commerce has led to the economic development and the empowerment of small businesses. During this week, Semana Dominicana, it is my pleasure to welcome and recognize David Fernandez, the president of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Dominican Republic, and Nelson Toca, the Dominican Republic Minister of Industry and Commerce. As the first Dominican elected to U.S. Congress, I am proud to support Dominican-U.S. relations and hope we will continue to strengthen the ties between the Dominican Republic and members of the Dominican diaspora here in the United States.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Dabney N. Montgomery. Dr. Montgomery's selfless service and his courage have made him an institution in Harlem. In the face of segregationist attitudes and racial animus, Dr. Montgomery joined the U.S. Army Air Corps as a member of the prestigious Tuskegee Airmen fighting in World War II. He walked in lockstep with Dr. Martin Luther King in the march from Selma to Montgomery during the civil rights movement. Dr. Montgomery influenced communities far and wide, but we are so fortunate that in Harlem he worked to make the community a better place for all of us. In 2007, Dr. Montgomery's lifetime of service and commitment to civil rights and the principles of equality were honored when he received the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian awards in the United States. Now, in 2018, I am so proud that we will soon unveil the Tuskegee Airman Dabney N. Montgomery Place on the northwest corner of West 136th Street to preserve and commemorate his legacy. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to share this with you and this body. I am hopeful that his memory will continue to live with us.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge Speaker Ryan do the following: before he retires, do the right thing and bring the Dream Act to the floor. Already 46 of his Republican colleagues and more than 170 Democrats-- that is 218 bipartisan supporters--have, as of today, cosponsored H. Res. 774. This will force debate on competing DACA bills in the House and use a procedure known as Queen of the Hill. This will include four amendments, including Representative Roybal-Allard's clean Dream Act and an amendment, H.R. 4796, the USA Act. Mr. Speaker, this will force a debate on this issue. The Dreamers have the support of the American people and Members of Congress. Bring the Dream Act to the floor.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember my neighbor and longtime friend, Frank Hess, who formerly served as special assistant to the legendary New York State Assembly member Denny Farrell, who, for many years, chaired the prestigious Ways and Means Committee. Frank was known for his cowboy hats and brutal honesty. He devoted his life to public service and spent almost 30 years in government. He was a devoted godfather, uncle, and father figure to anyone in the community who knew him. He once called 20 stores and drove for 2 hours to try to find a pair of shoes for his niece. Frank was a devoted person to his family and his community. Through his lifetime devotion to public service, he made sure Washington Heights was a better place for all of us. Frank could accomplish anything he set his mind to and he could unite different groups of people despite any racial, ethnic, or religious differences. He lived his life demonstrating what it means to be a contributing citizen and to serve as a role model for those, like myself, who were fortunate to know him. I will miss Frank Hess. He will forever be missed by our community.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Lacy Clay for yielding time, as well as Ranking Member Elijah Cummings and Chairman Trey Gowdy for their support in bringing this bill to the floor. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 4406, my bill to designate the post office located at 99 Macombs Place in New York, New York, as the Tuskegee Airmen Post Office Building. The Tuskegee Airmen hold a historic significance as the first Black military aviators to serve in the U.S. Army Air Corps during the peak of World War II. At the time, racial segregation remained in the U.S. Armed Forces as well as much of the country. These men were treated as second-class citizens, and much of the military establishment believed back then that Black soldiers were inferior to White soldiers. The Tuskegee Airmen proved them wrong. Collectively, they earned more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses, and they flew missions in secondhand P-40 planes, which were slower and more difficult to maneuver. Yet, in their more than 200 escort missions, the Tuskegee Airmen had a better success rate than any other escort groups of the 15th Air Force. The Tuskegee Airmen were active in fighting against Jim Crow laws in the South, and their success and bravery encouraged the eventual integration of the U.S. Armed Forces. Many of the men who served in this squadron dedicated their lives to fighting for racial equality and civil rights. Among the Tuskegee Airmen was a 26-year-old second lieutenant of Dominican heritage named Esteban Hotesse. Mr. Hotesse immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island at the age of 4 with his mother. He went on to serve as a pilot for 3 years with the Tuskegee Airmen before being killed during a military exercise in 1945. Naming this post office after the Tuskegee Airmen is a fitting tribute to honor their memory and contributions to this country. I am proud to have sponsored this bill and look forward to the Tuskegee Airmen's legacy living on in my district for many, many years to come.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, ending DACA would be a nightmare for Dreamers. In fact, it would be a nightmare for businesses and a nightmare for America's economy. You would think that that statement may have been said by the advocates for immigration rights or maybe by some of the faith-based groups that support immigration. But it wasn't. It was said by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Speaker, and that is so because DACA-eligible workers contribute $1.4 billion in Federal taxes, $2 billion in Social Security taxes, and $470 million in Medicare every single year. So this statement on its face we would think was made by folks who have traditionally supported immigration rights was made by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the one entity that is really concerned about economic growth, job creation, and the well-being of our economy. Ranking Member Nydia Velazquez's report on the impact of DACA on small businesses found that deporting Dreamers will cost $60 billion and reduce economic growth by $280 billion, including $460 billion in economic output over a decade. So this is the dramatic impact that not resolving DACA and not bringing help to the Dreamers will have on our Nation. Mr. Speaker, when we look into the eyes of these Dreamers, we just can't say no to them. You can't say no to a young person full of aspirations, full of dreams, and still full of so much hope for our Nation. Even under these very critical and challenging times for our Nation and the world, these Dreamers are full of aspirations. So the question will be: Are we a nation of aspirations or a nation of deportation? Nearly 8 in 10 voters support allowing Dreamers to remain permanently in our country. In red States and blue States, in Republican majority districts and Democratic districts, over 80 percent of Americans feel that these young people should stay in our Nation. Even three-quarters of Trump voters and only 14 percent believe that they should be forced out. Only 14 percent of our Nation feels that these young people should be kicked out, thrown out in the cold--only 14 percent. A very small minority of Americans believe that that should be what we do. Ninety-one percent of DACA recipients younger than 25 are employed. They are no burden on our economy. Those who are over 25 years old have been employed at a rate of 93 percent. Ninety-three percent of DACA recipients over 25 years old are working residents of our Nation with an average earning of $36,000. Dreamers are students, teachers, healthcare workers, devoted members of our communities, members of our Armed Forces, and first responders. That is who Dreamers are. They are not a load on our country. As we saw in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, it was a Dreamer who made food and volunteered to set up beds for thousands of Americans who were displaced. Jesus Contreras, a Dreamer and a paramedic, worked as a first responder for 6 days straight after the hurricane. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to vote against the previous question so that we can immediately bring the Dream Act to the floor and stand with our Nation's Dreamers.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, earlier today, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's appeal to leapfrog the judicial system in an attempt to end DACA. Today's decision is a victory for Dreamers and the entire Nation. But our work in Congress must continue until we pass the Dream Act to protect Dreamers once and for all. This decision tells us what we have already known all along, that ending DACA would be detrimental to our community and for our economy. With the loss of revenue, if we end DACA, it means that critical public programs like Social Security and Medicaid will take a big hit. We know that the Dreamers will bring in $460 billion in economic output over a decade. Dreamers are our sisters, our brothers, our cousins. They are owners of grocery stores, taxi drivers, members of our Armed Forces. We cannot afford to sit idly by. Mr. Speaker, I urge you to bring a clean Dream Act to the floor.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my concerns and my deep shame for many in this Chamber who continue to gamble with the lives of over 800,000 Dreamers, young people who are workers and students. They are teachers and members of our Armed Forces. They are dads and moms. After five continuing resolutions, we still have left them out in the cold, over 800,000 of them. This week, the Senate is, once again, sandbagging the Dreamers. While Senator McConnell has publicly made this an open debate, it is far from being a fair process. Just yesterday, a Federal judge in the Eastern District of New York ruled conclusively that eliminating DACA and the benefits extended to DACA recipients is an illegal act. Just as this is happening, the Senate continues and begins to sandbag the Dreamers by first putting on the table the issue of sanctuary cities. Many have a flawed view of what sanctuary cities are. Many erroneously think that sanctuary cities harbor hardened criminals. That is far from the truth. A sanctuary city is a city that allows a mom to take her child to school, who is undocumented, without fear that the principal will call ICE or the authorities. A sanctuary city is a city that allows a senior citizen to go into an emergency room to be treated in a hospital without the fear that the nurse will turn him or her in. A sanctuary city is a city that allows people who are living under the shadows to go into a police precinct and report a crime without the fear that they will be deported. That is what a sanctuary city is. It is an intricate part of our soul as a country of immigrants and States and cities of immigrants. The Senate process is far from being fair. A fair process would be to start a bipartisan debate on Dreamers. The Speaker of this Chamber has yet to make a commitment to bring a clean Dream Act to the floor. Dreamers are our children. They are my children. They belong to all of us. When we look into their faces, I see my own face. When I look into their faces, I see a genius MacArthur Fellow winner like Cristina Jimenez and Ivan Rosales, who is working toward becoming a doctor in the military. There is so much aspiration in these Dreamers. This is why over 80 percent of Americans in red States and blue States and in Republican districts and in Democratic districts support Dreamers staying here in the United States. They represent the best of us. They represent the foundation of our Nation and the tenets of what the Founding Fathers believe in: that people should come to America, prosper, and make her a better place for all of us to live in. Mr. Speaker, the fate of these young people rests right here in the palm of our hands. We need to ask ourselves: Are we a nation of aspirations? Or are we a nation of deportations? It is in our hands. We cannot keep deferring a vote on a clean Dream Act. A deferred vote is a dream denied. Justice delayed is justice denied. But I tell the Dreamers this: Don't be afraid. Don't be discouraged. Don't be deterred. Don't be dismayed. You have to continue to fight for the most important issues facing America. You have done a tremendous job. Keep this fight moving forward for justice in America.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, this is day three of the Trump shutdown. How many more extensions are Republicans going to ask for before passing a long-term budget? Yes, as we speak right now, the Senate is getting ready to pass yet another temporary continuing resolution until February 8. At the end of this month, we will hear from the President at the State of the Union without having addressed the critical needs of the American people. The White House and the Republicans in Congress are failing the American people by kicking the can down the road and not passing a budget that will reauthorize CHIP while also funding community health clinics and teaching hospitals, not ensuring protections for 800,000 DREAMers, and not providing disaster relief. Finally, Mr. Speaker, let me take a strong opposition to the racist comments made previous to me by a Member who is one of my colleagues from California. He tried to equate immigration with violent criminals. Shame on him. Shame on him. DREAMers are not violent criminals. They are members of our Armed Forces, they are teachers, they are workers, and they are aspirations to our Nation. Shame on him for equating DREAMers with violent criminals.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I stand on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as the clock keeps ticking for us to act on behalf of DREAMers and DACA recipients. Tonight, this House approved a continuing resolution funding government to continue to stay open for another 4 weeks that did not include a resolution to the dire conditions faced by DREAMers and DACA recipients. It did not include funding for community based health clinics, and it certainly did not adequately support the men and women in our Armed Forces. Yet, Mr. Speaker, as we continue to move forward, many Members of this House have worked diligently throughout the months to address the issues faced by DREAMers and DACA recipients. In fact, they have engaged in bipartisan legislative solutions. And we currently have three bipartisan bills that could have been voted on today on this very same floor of the House of Representatives. I guarantee you that if they would have been brought here to this floor and they would have given us the opportunity to vote on them, they would have passed. Because DREAMers are very popular in America. All polls show that over 80 percent of Americans across the Nation in different States, in different cities, want these young people to stay. Once you meet them, once you see their young faces, their energy, their desire to work and move forward, their patriotism for America, they win you over. No other immigration-related issue, I believe, has polled as high as the support that DREAMers are getting from across the country. Folks who live in red States and blue States, in districts represented by Democrats, districts represented by Republicans, feel overwhelmingly that these young people should stay here; that they should not be punished and sent back to a country that many of them don't really know, where they have no connection with family members. Some may not even speak the language spoken in those countries or be familiar with the customs in those nations. They feel they are Americans, and they have contributed tremendously to our Nation. So these bipartisan efforts and solutions that my colleagues have engaged in are very important. Let's begin by talking about the Dream Act, a clean Dream Act, which is a bipartisan bill led by Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard, a Democrat from California; and Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican from Florida. This particular bill, the Dream Act, a clean Dream Act, has 200 bipartisan cosponsors, including myself. This is not amnesty. Many have tried to portray the DREAMers' quest and fight as a fight for amnesty. This is not amnesty. This particular bill, which has over 200 cosponsors, asks of the DREAMers that in order for them to be eligible for the Dream Act, that a person needed to have been 18 years of age on the date of entry, that they must have been physically present in the U.S. 4 years prior to the enactment of the legislation. Any applicant could not be convicted of any offense punishable for more than 1 year, or three or more offenses resulting in 90 days or more of imprisonment. In other words, they had to have a clean record. This was just to be considered. Once they were accepted into the program, they will get a conditional permanent residency status, a temporary green card. Then to transition to lawful permanent residence under the Dream Act, a DREAMer needed to do certain things. In other words, for them to transition from a conditional green card to a permanent green card, they needed to maintain a clean record for 8 years. They needed to have completed a college degree or 2 years for a bachelor's degree or higher, or they must have served in the military for 2 years. It further asks that they would have to have been employed for at least 3 years for 75 percent of the time under the conditional permanent residency status. In addition to that, only after meeting all of the above, could they then transition to legal permanent status. So after that, they would have to wait an additional 5 years for them to be able to apply for naturalization, citizenship. So they would have to wait in total, from the time they got their temporary green card to the time they actually will be eligible to apply for citizenship, a total of 13 years. More than a decade. So the campaign to portray the Dream Act or a solution to the DREAMers and the DACA situation as amnesty is totally false. So 13 years--13 long years--they would have to wait from the minute they got a temporary green card to the time they will be eligible to apply for naturalization, citizenship. So 80 percent of America supports these DREAMers. And this is the Dream Act, a bipartisan bill that has been around for some time, led by Republicans and Democrats that did not have a border security provision to it. But we heard how the other side of the aisle wanted to address some of the concerns at the border. A group of bipartisan Members of this House led by Representative Will Hurd from Texas and Pete Aguilar began to put together a second proposal, USA Act. And this proposal currently has 49 bipartisan cosponsors. It came out of efforts put together by a group called the Problem Solvers. In this particular proposal, in order for you to be eligible for the USA Act, a person needed to be at least 18 years of age on the date of entry and not have been convicted, again, of an offense punishable for more than 1 year, or any combination of offenses resulting in imprisonment for more than 1 year. Then the person could transition to lawful permanent residency. Again, they had to maintain a clean record for 8 years, and had to complete a college degree or complete 2 years in a bachelor's degree or higher postsecondary vocational programs. They must have served in the military for the entire length of their enlistment contract or been employed for at least 3 years 80 percent of the time they were under conditional permanent residency status. Only after meeting all of the above, could they then transition to legal permanent residency. Then after 5 additional years, they will have been able to apply for naturalization. The USA Act has a border security component unlike the clean Dream Act. These bipartisan Members of this House tried to address some of the concerns of Members from across the aisle who continue to complain and be seriously concerned about border security. They included directing Homeland Security to deploy more technology along the border and to submit a plan to Congress regarding expansion of vehicle, cargo, and pedestrian inspection lanes on the top 10 high- volume ports of entry. This last clause in this bill is very important because our ports of entry are very antiquated and dilapidated. This is precisely where most of the illegal drugs, illegal guns, and human trafficking enters our Nation. This particular bill calls for revamping and modernizing these ports of entry. The USA Act also would add an additional 55 immigration judges per year over the next 3 fiscal years. Finally, this bipartisan bill develops a strategy to address the factors driving migration from Northern Triangle countries in Central America. So you have the Dream Act, the clean Dream Act, which many of us fought for. You have the USA Act, another bipartisan bill that many in this House fought to put together. But it does not end there. In addition to these two avenues that could have been taken tonight here in this House to address the plight of 800,000 DREAMers, the Senate acted and sent us over an immigration framework of ideas led by Senators Graham and Durbin, in addition to Senators Michael Bennet, Jeff Flake, and Cory Gardner, and Senator Bob Menendez from New Jersey. Under this framework, the eligibility criteria bars DREAMers who have been convicted of crimes, and they must satisfy any Federal tax liability that they may have accrued while receiving work authorization under DACA. A pathway to citizenship would be 12 years, unlike the other two proposals that call for 8 years, this is at 12 years, and 2 of which they could get credit for for their time under DACA. This proposal, this framework, coming from the Senate also added additional border security elements which included $1.459 billion for wall planning, design, and construction, as well as an additional $1.1 billion for tactical infrastructure, software border surveillance technology, and other equipment. All three of these bills were crafted under a bipartisan effort by Members from both sides of the aisle. I think that it is tragic that we lost another great opportunity tonight to bring any one of those three bills to this floor to be voted upon by the Members of this House, particularly since the public sentiment--over 80 percent of America feels that these young people should stay in our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from the great State of Texas, Congressman Al Green, who is my good friend and colleague.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Congressional Progressive Caucus for allowing and facilitating this Special Order hour on DREAMers and DACA. On my previous intervention, I highlighted how we contemplated tonight, as this House passed a continuing resolution to fund government, and how for many months we contemplated three pieces of legislation to address the issues of DACA recipients and DREAMers that were drafted in a bipartisan way. As I mentioned earlier, the first one is the clean Dream Act. The second one, put together by the Problem Solvers Caucus, is the USA Act. The other Chamber, which is convening right now as I speak to debate whether or not the government should continue to be funded and to take up the continuing resolution that we sent over to the other House, as they debate that, they will realize that none of the three proposals that I highlighted earlier--the Dream Act, the USA Act, and also the immigration framework that came over from bipartisan Senators--is included in that continuing resolution, leaving the DREAMers and DACA recipients out in the cold, propelling me to once again vote against the continuing resolution, as I did over 3 weeks ago. This particular issue impacts 800,000 DREAMers across the Nation, a population bigger than any one of our congressional districts. Mr. Speaker, they will have a profound impact on the economy if they are left out in the cold. According to the Center for American Progress, my district, the 13th Congressional District in New York which I represent, will lose more than $155 million in their own local GDP. My home State, New York, will lose $2.6 billion. This is not chump change. This is what the numbers show that we will lose. So this is not a matter to be taken lightly. These young people are not just a group of folks who will have an important impact on our economy. They are also having an impact on healthcare. Many of them are working to serve our senior population. Many of them continue to be providing services impacting patients across our Nation's healthcare system. According to a 2016 survey by groups, including the National Immigration Law Center and the Center for American Progress, more than one in five DREAMers also works in the healthcare and educational industries. So these young people who are being left out in the cold by this continuing resolution that is being debated in the Senate right now work in our hospitals, in our clinics, in our community-based clinics. They take care of our seniors, our children, those who are perhaps ill with a catastrophic disease. They also work in our educational system. So they are productive members of our society. Let me just say that they are also working very hard to distinguish themselves in higher education. Every year, an estimated 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school. About 10,000 undocumented students graduate from college every single year. Before President Obama announced DACA, these young people faced great barriers when it came to higher education. We are nowhere close to where we need to be if 55,000 high school graduates are not pursuing a higher education. Let's not forget these students. Let's not forget these DREAMers. Let's not forget these DACA recipients. We have made a full effort in the House and in the Senate to have a bipartisan approach to solving this issue, but yet, once again, the continuing resolution which is currently, right now, being debated in the Senate chose to leave the DREAMers out in the cold. Mr. Speaker, we will continue this fight. I ask the DREAMers not to be afraid. I ask them not to be deterred, not to be discouraged, not to dismay. We will continue this fight until they are allowed to stay here with their families and they can continue to make America a stronger nation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and legacy of Pamela Palanque-North, a dedicated advocate for northern Manhattan and the citywide New York City community. Ms. North was an unstoppable force of good in her own community. Beginning at Queens College, when she spoke out to increase minority student admissions, she since then served on numerous influential advisory boards across the city. She was the chair of Manhattan Community Board 12, where she served with distinction. She was also the chair of and president of the Metropolitan Chapter, Jack and Jill, Inc., and founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's trustees' Multicultural Audience Development Initiative Advisory Committee. Her legacy should and will be remembered in her enthusiasm for giving back and the strong work that the entities she influenced continue to do. Ms. North left a permanent mark in the northern Manhattan community, for which she will be forever fondly remembered for years to come.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to say to DREAMers, their parents, and TPS holders from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Honduras: I stand with you. To date, over 15,000 young people have lost DACA due to congressional inaction, and the lives of over 800,000 young people are being used as a bargaining chip. For what? A wall? So stop playing with the people's lives. Enough is enough. Let's pass the Dream Act now.

Mr. ESPAILLAT

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ESPAILLAT. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.