[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 48 (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2654]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           IMMIGRATION REFORM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Garcia) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GARCIA. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for 
joining me here today, as well as those advocates tirelessly working 
for comprehensive immigration reform.
  Nine months have passed since the Senate moved on a strongly 
bipartisan comprehensive immigration bill. In that time, we have heard 
nothing but excuses and empty promises from the Speaker.
  Yesterday, the Congressional Budget Office confirmed what so many of 
us already know: immigration is a boon for our economy. It will reduce 
the deficit by nearly $1 trillion, raise wages, and increase the 
Nation's productivity. It will make our country richer and create 
opportunity for all. But because the Speaker refuses to give us a vote, 
we have seen more families ripped apart, more jobs go overseas, and 
more people get stuck in a broken, outdated, and inefficient system.
  We can't afford to wait any longer for this House to take up 
immigration reform. The time has come to move this forward.
  Immigration reform isn't just the right thing to do, it is the smart 
thing to do. Our country needs it, the American people support it, and 
there are enough votes today in the House of Representatives to pass 
it.
  I invite all my colleagues to join me in signing the discharge 
petition so we can finally bring immigration reform to a vote.

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