The discharge petition filed by Representative Ayanna Pressley to protect Temporary Protected Status for Haitians now has the backing of a third Republican. Republican Representative Mike Lawler of New York announced on Thursday that he intends to sign the petition (No. 119-15), bringing to three the number of Republicans who have lent their support to the initiative.
Lawler joins Brian K. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, who signed on February 10, and Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida, who became the first Republican to sign on February 2.
The discharge petition, filed on January 22, 2026, seeks to force a full floor vote in the House of Representatives on a bill introduced by Representative Pressley on December 18, 2025, which proposes an extension of TPS for Haiti. The bill had been referred to the House Rules Committee, where the Republican majority had refused to bring it up for consideration.
With the support of all Democrats and the three Republican signatories, the petition now needs just one additional Republican to reach the 218-signature threshold required for passage by the House.
In an exclusive interview with CTN, Representative Pressley stated: “Don’t underestimate me and the strength of this coalition. This is a matter of life and death.”
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