Jim Costa: “I thank my friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, the United States…”

“I thank my friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, the United States, as we know, is a nation of immigrants, past and present. For hundreds of years, people have come to our shores in search of a better life for themselves and for their children. Immigrants from across the world have made incredible contributions to our country. We know that as fact. From starting businesses to healing the sick, to harvesting our fields and putting food on America's dinner table, to ensuring safety and pursuing justice, immigrants have made America a great nation because of their contributions. Yet there have been times when our Nation has struggled to live up to our own ideals, and right now, I think, is one of those times. This week, the President's deadline, March 5, 2 days past, to end the DACA program took effect, threatening hundreds of thousands of lives of Dreamers. Now, let us remember, this is because of President Trump's unilateral action last September to repeal DACA that we are in the position that we are in today. Mr. Speaker, I am standing here with the Dreamers, with over 80 percent of Americans, and with many of my colleagues who believe we ought to fix this problem. I ask Speaker Ryan and I call upon this Chamber to vote now on the bipartisan, bicameral Dream Act.…”