Today, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) joined as a co-sponsor to HR15 – sensible immigration legislation comprised entirely of provisions that have attracted bipartisan support in the past. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen is now the second House Republican to join this bill, which now is pushing toward 200 co-sponsors.
The following is a statement by Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice:
It is becoming harder by the day for Republican leadership to delay or deny the momentum behind immigration reform. As a longtime champion of immigration reform, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen recognizes that this is good legislation and that we cannot rely on procedural or calendar excuses to delay a vote on immigration reform any longer. We encourage more of the 29 Republicans who have come out publicly for reform with citizenship – and the dozens of other silent supporters who populate the House GOP caucus – to follow the examples of Rep. Ros-Lehtinen and Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) and to turn their pro-reform rhetoric into action.
Pressure is building and House Republicans are responding. The question remains whether House Republican leaders will listen to the majority of the country and the majority of the House who support reform with a path to citizenship. House leaders have given Rep. Steve King (R-IA) a vote on immigration this year, now Jeff Denham, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and the broad majority of the nation deserve a vote on reform as well.
