Washington, DC – Today UNITE HERE applauds the successful passage of The Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6) by a vote of 237-187 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The vote was bipartisan, with all Democrats who voted voting in favor, and seven Republicans voting in favor of the bill.

The legislation creates legal status and a pathway to citizenship for workers on Temporary Protected Status (TPS), DACA Dreamers who immigrated to America as children, and DED holders. UNITE HERE proudly represents thousands of immigrant workers, many of whom have work permits and are legally authorized thanks to these designations which the Trump administration has vowed to terminate.

“The Members of Congress who fought and voted for this bill have stood up behind me, my husband, and our two children today,” said Belinda Hanzman, a UNITE HERE member in Orlando with TPS status originally from Honduras. “I work at Disney World as a hotel housekeeper and for me and hundreds of my coworkers who also hold TPS status, the future for our families is not secure until we know we won’t be separated from them. Permanent legal status and a path to citizenship for all TPS and DACA holders is the only acceptable solution for workers, for families, and for communities.”

“Now that Congress has acted, UNITE HERE calls on the Senate and President Trump to follow suit and make sure that the provisions in this historic bill become law,” said Father Clete Kiley, general vice-president of UNITE HERE. “The hospitality industry depends on this workforce.”

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UNITE HERE represents over 270,000 members working in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries in the U.S. and Canada. Learn more at www.unitehere.org