Pelosi Statement on CBO Report on House Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement regarding the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office's deficit assessment of H.R. 15, the bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation introduced in the House:

"Today's report from the Congressional Budget Office proves that now is truly the time to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

"With this sensible, bipartisan legislation, we can raise wages, empower our small businesses, spur innovation and create jobs. We can bring our broken immigration system into line with our history and our values – securing our borders, protecting our workers, uniting our families, and creating an earned pathway to citizenship. We can build a brighter future for our nation, grow the economy, and single handedly reduce the deficit by $900 billion over the next two decades – including $200 billion in the first decade alone.

"Despite the huge benefits for our fiscal health and our nation's vitality, not to mention the overwhelming support of the American people, House Republicans continue to block a vote on comprehensive immigration reform. Enough is enough – and Democrats are demanding a vote. It is time for Republicans to stop catering to the most extreme, anti-immigrant wing of their caucus, and allow a vote on the bipartisan immigration reform our nation so urgently needs."