August 2, 2016
Contact: Kyle Roerink
Phone: 202-657-3219

Las Vegas, NV – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District recently joined her Democratic colleagues to co-sponsor the American Dream Employment Act, a bill that would allow beneficiaries of President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to work full time for members of Congress. 

Despite having the ability to work legally at other jobs around the country, DACA recipients, known as DREAMers, cannot obtain employment in congressional offices. Under current law, a provision in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act limits paid employment in the House and Senate to individuals who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents in the process of naturalizing. The American Dream Employment Act would amend this provision to specify DREAMers as eligible for employment in congressional offices. 

“This year one of my interns inquired about finding full-time employment with members of Congress. Regretfully, I had to tell her that it wasn’t possible,” Rep. Titus said.  “Every day thousands of DREAMers offer our nation their expertise in mathematics, arts, the sciences, health care, international relations, and countless other fields. They legally go to school, earn driver’s licenses, and work in the private sector. We should not deny smart, young, motivated people the opportunity to serve the only country they call home. Inaction by Republicans will continue to deprive the nation of all the valuable skills that DREAMers have to offer.”

Background on DACA: 
 
More than 800,000 people living in the U.S. are benefitting from DACA, a program which protects the children of undocumented immigrations who traveled into the U.S prior to 2007 from deportation. President Obama implemented the program in June 2012 after Congress failed to pass the Dream Act. DACA recipients must have been younger than 16 before entering the U.S. and continually resided in the U.S. for the past nine years. 

Background on Rep. Titus’ former intern, Brenda Romero: 

Brenda is a DACA recipient who worked with Rep. Titus during the spring and summer of 2016 after completing her associate degree from the College of Southern Nevada. She was the first undocumented student body president ever at the college. This fall she will begin pursuing a four-year degree at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Her dream is to become a counselor in higher education and an immigration attorney. Attached is a photo of the congresswoman and Brenda.