Thread: GOP congressman says he can get the votes to save DACA

GOP congressman says he can get the votes to save DACA

By Taylor Dolven Sep 1, 2017


As Trump plans to make his announcement on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, better known as DACA, one Republican congressman has a backup plan for the federal program that protects undocumented immigrants who arrived to the U.S. as children from deportation.

Rep. Mike Coffman of Colorado announced on Twitter Thursday night that if Trump cancels DACA, he will force a vote on the Bridge Act — a bill that would extend DACA protections for another three years — as soon as Congress is back in session on September 5.

Read more: Dreamers are plotting how to fight back if Trump kills DACA

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Rep. Mike Coffman
✔@RepMikeCoffman

(1/3): I have introduced the #BRIDGEAct in Congress to protect #DACA recipients
1:20 PM - Aug 31, 2017

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“This is a very important program to protect,” Coffman said in an interview with VICE News Friday.

Coffman vows he will immediately file a “discharge petition” for the Bridge Act — an obscure procedure traditionally used by the minority party to force a bill to the floor. Once the petition is filed, 218 member signatures are required get a vote on the bill. Coffman would need to convince 23 other Republicans, in addition to all 194 Democrats, to sign.

So far the bill has 12 Republican co-sponsors.

“As long as the Democrats hold firm, there will be enough Republicans to pass it,” Coffman said. “I really feel confident in that.”

Coffman got an assist Friday from House Speaker Paul Ryan, who urged Trump not to tear up the program. “This is something Congress has to fix,” he said on a radio program in his hometown Janesville, Wisconsin.

The Bridge Act, with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, was the first bill to be introduced in Congress in January. Immigration advocacy groups, including The New York Immigration Coalition and The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, support the bill.

While Coffman is a fan of the DACA protections for immigrants, he thinks the way Obama enacted the program through executive order is unconstitutional, and he hopes passing a law will ease Republican concerns, including the President’s. Coffman gave courtesy calls to Republican leadership Friday morning warning of his plans to force a vote.

“I hope [Trump] says Congress has to pass a bill and I’ll sign it,” Coffman said. “I’m not asking permission to do this. This is what I’m planning on doing.”

https://news.vice.com/story/gop-cong...s-to-save-daca

Coffman Thinks DACA Extension Has Enough Votes to Pass

Amnesty Red Alert: Congress may vote Tuesday!



https://www.alipac.us/f8/amnesty-red...uesday-350376/

There appears to be 25 Cosponsors now.
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Cosponsors: H.R.496 — 115th Congress (2017-2018) All Information (Except Text)


Sponsor: Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6] | Cosponsor statistics: 25 current - includes 7 original = Original cosponsor

Cosponsor	Date Cosponsored
Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4]*	01/12/2017
Rep. Curbelo, Carlos [R-FL-26]*	01/12/2017
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]*	01/12/2017
Rep. Denham, Jeff [R-CA-10]*	01/12/2017
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]*	01/12/2017
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-27]*	01/12/2017
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-27]*	01/12/2017
Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4]	01/30/2017
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16]	01/30/2017
Rep. Reichert, David G. [R-WA-8]	01/30/2017
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]	01/30/2017
Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-21]	01/31/2017
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]	01/31/2017
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]	02/07/2017
Rep. O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX-16]	02/07/2017
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]	02/24/2017
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-8]	02/24/2017
Rep. Donovan, Daniel M., Jr. [R-NY-11]	03/13/2017
Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]	03/13/2017
Rep. Faso, John J. [R-NY-19]	03/16/2017
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20]	03/16/2017
Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2]	04/05/2017
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]	04/05/2017
Rep. Upton, Fred [R-MI-6]	05/11/2017
Rep. Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL-3]	05/11/2017

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-...7%22%5D%7D&r=9

It's not the number of Co-Sponsors that matters, it's the number of Republicans who would vote for it that matters. He says he has 12 but needs 23.

H.R.496 - BRIDGE Act

Lipinski: Congress Should Pass Bipartisan BRIDGE Act on DACA


Community Contributor Isaac Sancken

In response to President Trump's announcement today that he will be ending DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), Congressman Dan Lipinski (IL-3) is renewing his call for Congress to pass H.R. 496, the BRIDGE (Bar Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy) Act, which would protect recipients of DACA from the threat of deportation. Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-6), the author of the bill, has limited co-sponsorship by Democrats to those who could also gain the support of a Republican co-sponsor. Four months ago, Lipinski became only the 13th Democratic co-sponsor when he was able to bring on Republican Rep. Fred Upton (MI-6) as a supporter.

"President Trump had said that he would 'deal with DACA with heart,' but now it is up to Congress to act to protect these young immigrants," said Rep. Lipinski. "Congress can do that by passing the bipartisan BRIDGE Act which would ensure that DACA recipients continue to be protected from deportation. I have always focused on bringing people together to solve problems, so earlier this year I proactively reached across the aisle to secure Rep. Upton's support for this bill, which enabled me to also sign on as a cosponsor. I am hopeful that others join in this bipartisan effort to do what most Americans agree is the right thing to do."

The BRIDGE Act would grant those eligible under DACA three years of legal protection. DACA provides temporary protection from removal - as well as work authorization - to people who were brought to the United States as children, as long as they register with the government, pay a fee, and pass a criminal background check. More than 752 thousand individuals have received DACA authorization.

Under the BRIDGE Act, a current DACA recipient would receive provisional protected presence until the expiration date of his or her DACA status and could apply for continued protected presence prior to that expiration. Applicants would be required to pay a reasonable fee, undergo criminal background checks, and meet a number of eligibility criteria indicating that they came to the United States as minors, grew up in this country, have pursued an education, have not committed any serious crimes, and do not pose a threat to our country. An individual's provisional protected presence and employment authorization would be subject to revocation by the Department of Homeland Security if it is determined that the individual no longer meets the eligibility criteria. The BRIDGE Act would provide provisional protected presence and employment authorization for three years after the date of enactment of the legislation.

Lipinski's leadership on the BRIDGE Act has drawn praise from those concerned about the plight of those who have been given an opportunity under DACA.

"The North American Institute for Mexican Advancement (NAIMA) understands that building support for immigration issues also requires the support of centrist legislators such as Congressman Dan Lipinski," said NAIMA President Sergio Suarez. "After meeting with the Congressman, NAIMA applauds his endorsement of the Bridge Act in support of DACA youth. Rep. Lipinski's support, along with his work to identify a Republican colleague to join as a co-sponsor of the bill, is a significant move in support of immigrant families."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburb...-05-story.html