WASHINGTON, DC. Aug 6, 2022 (Biz Republic) — U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) today released the following statement as the Senate begin consideration of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022:
“As the Senate begins to vote on the Inflation Reduction Act, I call on my Democratic colleagues to protect immigrant communities from being used as political pawns by supporting Republican amendments designed to divide Democrats and hurt immigrant families.
“During this long reconciliation process, we have all sacrificed priorities that didn’t make it into the final package. While I fully support lowering prescription drug costs for millions of seniors, extending health care coverage subsidies for three years, and tackling the climate crisis for our children’s futures, I conceded on other key priorities for the state of New Jersey like lifting Republican-imposed SALT cap, to protect the agreement on this reconciliation package.
“In order to maintain the integrity of this historic legislation, I will not only vote no on any immigration amendment introduced, but I will vote no on the final bill if any harmful immigration amendments are adopted. It has always been my north star to pass a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants that call our country home, secure our borders, and fix our broken immigration system, but the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is not the right legislative vehicle to address these deeply needed reforms to our immigration system.
“I urge my Democratic colleagues to stand united and vote no on ALL amendments, regardless of the underlying policy and regardless of which party offers them. We cannot allow Republicans to divide us and align the Democratic Party with extremist policies that would jeopardize us from delivering historic investments for the American people.”
