The Hill
By Kristina Wong
May 14, 2015
Rep.
Mike Coffman (R-Colo.) is whipping votes against an amendment that
would strip language from a defense bill that woud explore allowing
certain illegal immigrants
to serve in the military in exchange for U.S. citizenship.
An
amendment set for a House vote later on Thursday would strip the
National Defense Authorization Act of language encouraging the Defense
secretary to allow those who
qualify for President Obama's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program to serve.
The
amendment, sponsored by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and supported by a
group of 25 other Republicans, was one of more than 300 amendments the
Houes Rules Committee accepted
for consideration on the House floor.
"I’m
here today to ask my esteemed colleagues to stand with me in declaring:
Let our DREAMers serve," Coffman said in prepared remarks for a floor
speech on Thursday.
DACA recipients are often referred to as "Dreamers."
"Let
the young men and women who were brought here as children, through no
fault of their own, serve their country. Let them serve the country that
educated them. Let
them serve the country they love," he said.
Another
Republican, Rep. Jeff Denham (Calif.), whose amendment to allow illegal
immigrants to serve in the military was not accepted for consideration,
is also helping
to whip votes against the amendment, according to an aide.
Coffman noted that six Republicans supported the provision in the House Armed Services Committee's markup.
Coffman,
a Marine veteran, is weighing a bid for Democratic Sen. Michael
Bennet's seat in Colorado, where Hispanic support could help him win.
"Their
ability to serve benefits us all. It provides an expanded pool of
willing and capable applicants, helping to uphold and even increase the
rigorous standards to
enlist in our military," he said.
He also noted that the Army recently tripled its pool of legal immigrant applicants, from 1,500 to a planned 5,000 in October.
"DREAMers
should be a part of that pool," he said. "If DREAMers want to put their
life on the line for this country, we should give them the opportunity
and honor their
willingness to serve."
For more information, go to: www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com
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