Immigration
Another provision of the NDAA authored by Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) would have directed the Secretary of Defense to review how allowing DACA recipients to serve in the military would impact the pool of potential recruits and military readiness. The Secretary of Defense would then brief members of the House Armed Services Committee on the evaluation's results.
That provision remains in the bill, as the House Rules Committee did not allow a vote on an amendment to eliminate the Veasey language.
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), along with fellow Democrat Reps. Pete Gallego (TX), Marc Veasey (TX) and Bill Foster (IL) urged House Republicans to continue the DREAMer amendments in the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Washington, D.C. – This week, as the National Defense Authorization Act goes to the House floor for consideration, U.S. Congressman Marc Veasey, TX-33, and U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego, AZ-7, will host a press conference to discuss their DREAMer amendments that both passed out of the House Armed Services Committee by a bipartisan vote.
"Anyone who supports taking American jobs and military service opportunities from Americans and lawful immigrants is betraying the American citizens they claim to represent," the lawmakers said of the push by Denham and others, labeling their actions "unfathomable."
Brooks said he plans to appear before the Rules panel to advocate for his amendment and for nixing the existing provision, which was authored by Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).
A second amendment, added by Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey of Texas, is asking the Defense Department to conduct a review of how including DACA recipients among the military's recruits would affect the armed forces. It passed in the same committee 34-29, gaining the support of more Republicans.
Seven Republicans crossed the aisle to support the second amendment, sponsored by Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas). It was approved in a 34-29 committee vote.
Washington, D.C. —El Congresista Veasey, TX-33, miembro de la Comisión de la Cámara para Servicios armados (HASC en sus siglas en inglés), ofreció cinco enmiendas que fueron aprobadas durante el Remarque de la ley de autorización de defensa nacional para el año fiscal 2016.
Washington, D.C. —Congressman Veasey, TX-33, member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), offered five amendments that passed during markup of the National Defense Authorization Act Fiscal Year 2016. Notably, Veasey's amendment to evaluate how recent Executive Actions regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and prosecutorial discretion for undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S.
Washington, D.C. —Congressman Veasey, TX-33, member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), offered five amendments that passed during markup of the National Defense Authorization Act Fiscal Year 2016. Notably, Veasey's amendment to evaluate how recent Executive Actions regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and prosecutorial discretion for undocumented immigrants currently residing in the U.S. impacts our nation's military readiness if these individuals are made eligible for enlistment, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan vote.
The amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act -- one from Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), the other from Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) -- are fairly small in scope. Neither would actually change the law to allow more Dreamers to join the military.
The committee voted 34 to 29 to approve Veasey's amendment, which would ask the Defense Department to evaluate how DACA and other deferred action programs would affect military recruiting efforts.