Phillips, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect the Liberian Community from Expiration and Deportation

The Protect Our Liberian Community Act moves Liberians from Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), which is set to expire on March 31st, to Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

WASHINGTON, DC – With 4 days left until Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status expires for the Liberian community,Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) today introduced the bipartisan Protect Our Liberian Community Act.

The bipartisan bill would move Liberian DED holders to Temporary Protected Status (TPS), providing legal status to the community for three years. DED is set to expire on March 31st, which would subject thousands of Liberian workers and taxpayers to deportation. Liberians on DED have no pathway to citizenship.

Liberians on DED have lived in the United States for 16 years or more and have demonstrated that they are law-abiding and taxpaying. Many own homes and businesses, and are hardworking employees for health care employers that are already facing critical workforce shortages. Continue reading “Phillips, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect the Liberian Community from Expiration and Deportation”

With Time Running Out, Rep. Phillips Presses for Legislative Fix tp DED on the House Floor

Phillips: “There’s an empty net and all we have to do is tap in the puck.”

WASHINGTON, DCWith 4 days left until Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status expires for the Liberian community, Rep. Dean Phillips pressed the House to take legislative action to move DED holders to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for three years and give Congress time to pass a more comprehensive solution.

Click here to view Rep. Phillips’s remarks

Below are Rep. Phillips’ remarks as prepared:

Madam Speaker, the clock is ticking and thousands of Minnesotans are running out of time.

Continue reading “With Time Running Out, Rep. Phillips Presses for Legislative Fix tp DED on the House Floor”

Rep. Phillips Delivers Letters from Two Thirds of the Minnesota Senate to Pres. Trump Asking for DED Extension

Bipartisan group of Minnesota lawmakers appeals to Congress and the White House as deadline closes in

WASHINGTON, DCRep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) delivered 48 letters to the White House from a bipartisan group of Minnesota senators today. The letters urge the President and Congress to extend the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program for Liberian refugees before it expires on March 31, subjecting thousands to deportation. Fifty-five members of the Minnesota House sent a similar letter to the White House and Congress last week.

Minnesota is home to one of the largest Liberian populations in the country. Their integral contributions to the community and unique legal status prompted 19 Republican State Senators, including Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, and 29 Democratic State Senators to join 55 State Representatives to call for their protection.

“Our Liberian neighbors, family members and coworkers have played by the rules, paid taxes and contributed to our community,” said Rep. Phillips. “That is why Republicans and Democrats should stand together in support of DED holders. I thank Minnesota Senators on both sides of the aisle for placing the best interests of our people and economy over politics and I urge my colleagues in Washington to do the same.”

Liberians have lived in Minnesota under special legal status for decades after fleeing bloody civil wars and the devastating Ebola virus. Republican and Democratic presidential administrations from Clinton to Trump have renewed DED every two years since it was introduced in 1999. Under current law, there is no pathway to citizenship for Liberians on DED.

In the north metro, Liberians make up a significant percentage of the health care workforce – particularly in caretaking roles where employers are already struggling with critical workforce shortages.

“This isn’t a partisan issue,” said Minnesota Senator John Hoffman. “It is bipartisan because this is a people issue. DED has protected Liberians for over a decade and during that time they became our friends and family. We stand together as we reach out to our President to not only extend DED to keep our communities whole, but to follow with a path to permanent citizenship so that those who became our family stay close to us always.”

“Our Liberian neighbors are Minnesotans — they contribute to our economy, our culture and our communities,” said Minnesota Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman. “Ending the protections from DED will have detrimental effects on Minnesota, and most importantly, will have life-changing and even tragic life-or-death consequences for Liberians living in Minnesota.”

Rep. Phillips has been a vocal advocate for Liberian refugees in Washington, introducing the bipartisan Protect our Liberian Community Act today that would prevent thousands of Liberians living legally in the U.S. from becoming undocumented and subject to deportation on March 31, and co-sponsoring the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness Act (H.R.1169) to provide a pathway to citizenship for those same individuals.

Rep. Phillips Kicks Off Congressional Art Competition

MINNETONKA, MNRep. Dean Phillips is kicking off the Congressional Art Competition in Minnesota’s Third District this week. Students grades 9-12 living or attending school in the Third District are invited to create original 2D works of art in the medium of their choosing by April 15, 2019 for consideration.

The winning student artist and one guest will be flown to Washington DC where their piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol alongside winning artwork from across the country for one year. Additional artwork will be selected for display in Rep. Phillips’s district office.

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to recognize and encourage artistic talent in each congressional district and the nation. More than 650,000 high school students have participated over three decades.

FULL COMPETITION DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE AT WWW.PHILLIPS.HOUSE.GOV

OPEN TO: High school students grades 9-12 living or attending school in Minnesota’s Third District

ART DUE: April 15, 2019

MINNESOTA GALLERY: Minnetonka Center for the Arts, April 17-24, 2019

JUDGING AND AWARDS RECEPTION: Minnetonka Center for the Arts, April 24, 2019, 6:00-7:30 PM

WASHINGTON DC CEREMONY: June 24, 2019

Rep. Phillips Pushes for Legislative Fix to DED on the House Floor

Phillips: “I urge all of us, on both sides of the aisle, to do the right thing, the humane thing, and keep our Liberian community here in their homes – in the United States of America.”

WASHINGTON, DC – This morning, Rep. Dean Phillips spoke on the House Floor to push for a legislative fix to prevent the expiration of the Liberian community’s Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) status.

DED is set to expire on March 31st. Unless there is an extension or another fix, the expiration will subject thousands of Liberians to deportation.

Click here to view Rep. Phillips’s remarks Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Pushes for Legislative Fix to DED on the House Floor”

Rep. Phillips’ Statement on Special Counsel Mueller’s Report

MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA Rep. Dean Phillips today released the following statement on Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report.

“Last week, my Democratic and Republican colleagues voted 420-0 to demand the public release of the Mueller Report – an action supported by President Trump himself. Trust in our government is built on transparency and faith in the rule of law. Attorney General Barr must release the full report to the public as soon as possible.”

Rep. Phillips Co-Sponsors the Equality Act

WASHINGTON, DCRep. Dean Phillips today announced that he is an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act, a bill aimed at ending discrimination against LGBTQ Americans in public accommodations, education, federal financial assistance, employment, housing, credit and federal jury service.

“It’s time to end the era of uncertainty and discrimination against our LGBTQ friends, neighbors and family members,” said Phillips. “Our nation was built on the promise of equality and opportunity, and the Equality Act extends that promise to our extraordinary LGBTQ community. I’m proud to help introduce this long overdue legislation in the House today and will continue working hard to make sure the Equality Act is signed into law.”

Only 21 states have explicit laws barring discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing and public accommodations, and only 20 states have such protections for gender identity. The Equality Act adds sex, sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in public places. All existing obligations and exemptions will apply in exactly the same way to LGBTQ Americans as they do to everyone else. Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Co-Sponsors the Equality Act”

Rep. Phillips Urges Colleagues to Find Legislative Fix for DED in House Floor Speech

Phillips: “We can legislate a fix and it is time to act.”

WASHINGTON, DCThis morning, Rep. Dean Phillips took to the House Floor to urge his colleagues to take legislative action to fix the Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) program for the Liberian community.

DED is set to expire on March 31st. Unless there is an extension or a legislative fix, the expiration will open the door for thousands of Liberians to be forced from their homes in America and sent back to Liberia after decades of legally working, raising families and paying taxes in the United States. DED does not provide a pathway to citizenship. The program has been extended by Republican and Democratic administrations every two years since 1991.

Click here to view Rep. Phillips’s remarks

Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Urges Colleagues to Find Legislative Fix for DED in House Floor Speech”

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips hosts community conversation after H.R. 1 passes House

U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips’ voting rights and campaign finance reform bill, H.R. 1, passed the House March 8 with three amendments.

Phillips co-sponsored the bill, and authored the amendments which, according to a news release, were to heighten the “independence, bipartisanship and diversity” of the Federal Election Commission, and to close a loophole that allowed Executive Branch officials to lobby when they leave government office.

The For The People Act is targeted at election and government reform, including increasing transparency and accountability in online political ads.

View the complete March 12 article by Lara Bockenstedt on The Lakeshore Weekly News website here.

‘Minnesota is my home’: Liberians face deportation deadline

Faced with war and chaos in Liberia — war that stole her dreams and “took everything” from her — Louise Stevens fled to the United States in 2000, settling in Minnesota.

Over nearly two decades, Stevens has raised a family and worked for Boston Scientific, Medtronic and a firm that cares for vulnerable adults.

Now, she’s facing a looming deadline that could result in her being deported back to Liberia.

View the complete March 11 article by Martin Moylan on the MPR New website here.