Rep. Gillen Statement on Senate Request to Pass Bipartisan Bill Extending TPS for Law-abiding Haitians

WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY-04) released a statement following the request by Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.) to pass her bipartisan legislation extending TPS for law-abiding Haitians by unanimous consent. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) objected, blocking the bill from immediate passage:

"It is shameful that a single Senate Republican was able to block my legislation that already passed the House on a bipartisan basis to extend TPS for law-abiding Haitians. This is by no means the end of this fight. The Senate must respond to the Supreme Court's harmful decision to terminate TPS for hardworking, taxpaying, law-abiding Haitian members of our community who contribute to our economy.

"Haitian TPS recipients have been thoroughly vetted, passed rigorous background checks and remain essential to our frontline workforce and healthcare sector. Forcing them to face the violence and chaos in Haiti would be tantamount to a death sentence and harmful for our economy. I have stood shoulder to shoulder with Long Island's Haitian community throughout this fight, and we won't back down now.

"Faith leaders, industry executives and a bipartisan group of lawmakers nationwide have joined our effort and now we must continue to grow our coalition. I will keep advocating directly to the administration and work with my Republican colleagues in both chambers to ensure the Senate passes this TPS extension to preserve the legal status and safety of our Haitian friends and neighbors."