Calls on leadership to bring up immigration measure during lame-duck session
WASHINGTON – Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., today urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to schedule a vote on immigration legislation that would jumpstart the economy and bolster national security. For the past week, Chu has helped gather the votes necessary to pass The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act by the end of the year. The bill makes it possible for as many as 2.1 million young undocumented immigrants nationwide, roughly 26% of whom live in California, to earn the chance to become productive, taxpaying American citizens.
The DREAM Act is targeted toward undocumented young adults who were brought to America as children, have lived most of their lives in the US and have completed at least two years of military service or college studies. It was first introduced in 2001 and has been reintroduced during every session of Congress since then. Despite this, the House of Representatives has never once brought the legislation up for a vote.
“It's long overdue to schedule a vote on the DREAM Act,” Chu said. “Every day that goes by without bringing the DREAM Act to the floor is not just a disappointment for millions of promising, law-abiding young Americans, it’s a setback for the future of our nation. This bill strengthens our economy and bolsters national security. That's why it's supported across the military and business communities.
“These are upstanding young men and women, whose parents and guardians brought them to this country. They didn't have a choice in the matter and we need to stop punishing them for it. Across America, millions of gifted young students are ineligible for financial aid and, in some states, shut out of public colleges altogether just because they were born in a different country. Denying them a chance at citizenship is not just callous, it's careless.
“These students have already completed K-12 education in the United States. Rejecting this legislation ensures that we’ll never get a full return on this already substantial investment. That’s why I’m calling on our leadership to schedule a vote on the DREAM Act as soon as possible, and why I'll be working tirelessly to see it pass.”
Congresswoman Judy Chu is a member of the House Immigration Subcommittee, a cosponsor of the DREAM Act and an original co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform ASAP Act (CIR-ASAP).
Chu also sits on the Education and Labor, and Government Oversight Committees. A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.
