AOC Urges Senate Dems to Ignore Parliamentarian, Reinstate Pathway to Citizenship in Build Back Better Bill

In her Nov. 22 letter, co-signed by dozens of House Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez wrote: “The moment is now. We urge you to reinstate a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS (Temporary Protected Status) holders, farm workers, and essential workers in the Senate’s version of the reconciliation bill."

Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged that the Senate parliamentarian has issued a memorandum dismissing the budgetary impact of providing a pathway to citizenship, meaning it cannot be included in a reconciliation bill.  "But the role of the Parliamentarian is an advisory one, and the Parliamentarian’s opinion is not binding," she wrote.

The letter is addressed to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).