Governor Hochul: “Republicans and Democrats have come together with the most significant immigration reform in decades. President Biden has said that on day one, if this is passed by the House and the Senate, he will sign it…This should be happening. The only thing standing in the way is that the House Republicans refuse to take action.”
Hochul: “I am calling on all 10 of the members of the delegation who are in the majority...They have enough of a voice to work together with the Democrats and have enough votes to make sure that this can become a reality… I want their commitments that they will vote for this because I believe the Senate can get this done…The opportunity to solve this is right there. And if it is not solved, it'll be exclusively their fault and on their hands.”
Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul called on New York’s Congressional Delegation currently serving in the House Majority to support the Senate’s bipartisan deal on border security and deliver relief to the State of New York.
This week, the Hochul Administration called on the House Majority to support this compromise as part of a formal response to Representative Elise Stefanik’s letter, signed with eight additional New York members in the majority, from January 28.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
I want to talk about the news of the day. Senator Schumer announced that there is an imminent deal that has been reached with the members of the Senate – a bipartisan bill. Republicans and Democrats have come together with the most significant immigration reform in decades. President Biden has said that on day one, if this is passed by the House and the Senate, he will sign it.
It is absolutely essential that we get these changes. Number one, changes in the asylum law, make them tougher. Number two, money for localities and states, $1.4 billion. New York State would receive a share of this. The City of New York would receive a share of this. We need the money right now. But also, to shut down the border as President Biden has said he would do.
This should be happening. The only thing standing in the way is that the House Republicans refuse to take action. They don't want there to be a resolution because they want to keep the chaos going.
Here's what I'm doing today as the Governor of the State of New York. I am calling on all 10 of the members of the delegation who are in the majority, the 10 Republicans who have enough just by banding together to support their state, they have enough of a voice to work together with the Democrats and have enough votes to make sure that this can become a reality.
Locally here in Syracuse, I'm calling on Congressman Williams to join with all the other members and be the coalition of the willing, those willing to solve this problem and not just grandstand. So I'm calling them out today. I want their commitments that they will vote for this because I believe the Senate can get this done.
They stand together and do what's right for our state and for our nation. They can become part of the majority. And secondly, lastly, President Biden will sign it. So that's what's on our shoulders today.
The opportunity to solve this is right there. And if it is not solved, it'll be exclusively their fault and on their hands, because they refuse to do what they're supposed to do by their jobs, is to protect and defend our nation.