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Contact: Helen Machado
202 225-1766
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Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) Joins Other Members of Congress in Praising Senate Hearing on DREAM Act
Washington,
Jun 29, 2011 -
Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) joined 16 other Members of Congress in praising the first hearing on the DREAM Act convened June 28 by Senator Dick Durbin (IL) before the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security.
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34), co-author of the DREAM Act, said: “As an original co-author of the House-version of the DREAM Act, I join my colleagues in commending the Senate Judiciary Committee. Yesterday’s hearing marks an important milestone on the path to making the American dream obtainable for all of our youth. Crossing our borders as children with their parents, the kids the DREAM Act would benefit aren’t criminals and ours is the only country they have ever known. We can turn our backs on these hopeful young people and consign them to an uncertain future. Or we can pass the DREAM Act and empower them to join our children and grandchildren in building a stronger America.”
The DREAM Act – which passed the House of Representatives last year and got 55 Senate votes but was filibustered by Senate Republicans – provides a path to conditional legal residency for an undocumented immigrant child if he or she:
• Was 15 years old or younger when brought into America
• Has lived in the United States for at least five years before enactment of the law
• Is of good moral character
• Has earned a high school degree or a graduate equivalent diploma
Eligible people would have six years to earn lawful permanent resident status if they:
• Successfully complete two years of higher education, or
• Complete two years of military service and received an honorable discharge if he
or she is discharged
The other members who voiced support included: Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07); Rep. Keith Ellison (MN-05); Rep. Jared Polis (CO-02); Rep. Judy Chu (CA-32); Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL-04); Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15); Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR-03); Rep. Pedro R. Pierluisi (PR); Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09); Rep. Hank Johnson’s (GA-04); Rep. Doris O. Matsui (CA-05); Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-36); Rep. Bob Filner (CA-51); Rep. Mazie K. Hirono (HI-2); Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18); and Rep. Laura Richardson (CA-37).
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