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Congressman Cohen Votes for Dream and Promise Act

March 18, 2021

In floor speech, says “we need their talent to make this country even greater”

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today voted for, and the House passed, the Dream and Promise Act, providing a path to citizenship for young people brought to this country as children. Before the vote, Congressman Cohen spoke from the House floor during debate on the measure.

In those remarks, he said, in part:

"These Dreamers are trained in America. They've been educated in America. They're talented. They're smart.

"Not only are we doing the right thing by giving them a pathway to citizenship but we're doing the right thing for America because we need their talent to make this country even greater. That's why I support the Dreamers Act."

See his entire remarks here.

The vote on passage of the Dream and Promise Act was 228 to 197.

The Dream and Promise Act establishes a path to lawful permanent resident (LPR) status for Dreamers (individuals who came to the United states when they were young) and for certain individuals who were eligible for or held Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status.

The bill provides conditional LPR status for up to 10 years to Dreamers who meet certain basic educational benchmarks. It provides full LPR status to those who reach more advanced professional or career milestones. The bill bars eligibility if an applicant presents a national security risk, has a felony conviction of any kind, or has a record for certain misdemeanor convictions.

The bill also creates a path to LPR status for individuals who had, or were eligible for, TPS on January 1, 2017, or DED status on January 20, 2021, if they have been in the United States for at least three years and have not committed any acts that would disqualify them for relief under those programs.