[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 153 (Thursday, September 21, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4638]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on TPS, yesterday, the Biden 
administration announced they will designate temporary protection 
status for Venezuela, giving migrants from that country relief from 
removal and the ability to get work authorization. This decision will 
affect more than half of the newly arrived asylum seekers in New York.
  The administration's announcement is welcome news and one many of us 
in the New York congressional delegation have been calling on for 
months. I wrote to Secretaries Blinken and Mayorkas, in July, that 
country conditions in Venezuela clearly met the criteria for TPS. So 
this is a good step forward.
  TPS will give much needed relief for New York systems currently 
straining to support newly arrived immigrants. It is going to save New 
York taxpayer dollars, and it will allow migrants from Venezuela who 
are seeking asylum to find temporary employment, support themselves and 
their families, contribute to our economy, and reduce the shelter 
burden that New York is now undergoing.
  So this is very, very welcome news. Many of these migrants can now, 
hopefully, get closer to finding work and finding shelter, which they 
need, and I thank the Biden administration for taking this step.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to complete my 
remarks, followed by Senator Ernst for 3 minutes, prior to the 
scheduled rollcall votes.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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