Congresswoman Ramirez Presents Motion to Recommit Extreme, Hurtful Republican Continuing Resolution

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Vice Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Committee, presented a motion to recommit  H.R. 5525, the Spending Reduction and Border Security Act, back to the House Rules Committee for the proper bipartisan negotiation. 

During the debate on the House Floor, Congresswoman Ramirez highlighted the importance of bringing forward a clean Continuing Resolution that keeps our ser without:

• irrational 30% cuts to essential safety net programs for families and low-income communities,
• hurtful provisions from H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which endangers and criminalizes immigrants and asylum seekers.

Congresswoman Delia C Ramirez’s Recent Remarks on the Shutdown:
 

• I cannot believe I am standing here again, having to remind my colleagues that we are a nation of immigrants.
• But I will come to this podium each time my Republican colleagues have amnesia about where their families come from or try to scapegoat the immigrant community. 
• Introducing a continuing resolution that cuts services and deports unaccompanied children, ends asylum, and jails families betray a truth about my colleagues… 
• They are more willing to scapegoat and sacrifice the well-being of immigrants, children, veterans, the elderly, and people experiencing poverty than they are to do the hard work of owning up to their failures, their hypocrisy, their ineffective leadership. 
• It is hypocritical to target immigrants when many of the people in this chamber have reaped the benefits of immigrant labor and become wealthy on the backs of immigrant sacrifice.
• Let me tell you because my mother tells me about her journey: it takes courage to cross a border, to seek a job or to pursue an opportunity to raise your children in safety. The courage of our people stands in stark contrast to the cowardice of my colleagues. 
• There is nothing people-centered about this Republican CR. There is nothing noble or redeeming about it. It’s time for a clean CR that does not scapegoat the people this nation is built on to indulge the cowardice of my colleagues. 
• For this reason, at the appropriate time, I will offer a motion to recommit this bill back to committee. If the House rules permitted, I would have offered the motion with an important amendment to this bill.  My amendments would strike the section that makes 30% cuts across the board.
• I ask unanimous consent to insert into the record the text of this amendment.
• I hope my colleagues will join me in voting for the motion to recommit. I yield back.

For video of remarks, click here.