Udall: Signing of ASSET Bill Ensures All Coloradans Have Access to Jobs, Higher Education
'Washington Would be Wise to Follow Colorado's Lead,' Help Students Succeed
Mark Udall, who has been a vocal advocate for comprehensive and accountable immigration reform, welcomed the signing into law of Colorado's ASSET bill — legislation that secures fair tuition rates for students who attend at least three years of high school in Colorado, regardless of their immigration status. Udall said Colorado's leadership on this issue should spur Congress to follow suit and pass common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act.
"Colorado is leading the way to ensure that every Colorado student, regardless of where they come from or their immigration status, has equal access to opportunity. I am proud to stand with Gov. Hickenlooper and my colleagues in the Colorado General Assembly in welcoming this important milestone, the signing of the ASSET Bill, and what it means for high-achieving high school graduates and our future economic growth," Udall said. "I will take Colorado's example with me to Washington and continue fighting for a balanced, bipartisan immigration-reform proposal. I stand with business, religious, agricultural and labor leaders — and Coloradans of all backgrounds — when I say the time has come for Congress to set partisanship aside and follow suit. We must pass comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act."
Udall, who recently wrote an op-ed for the Denver Post on the issue, has been a vocal advocate for fixing the country's broken immigration system through comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act. Udall has regularly met with Coloradans from across the political spectrum to discuss how Washington can fix our broken immigration system and create a fair system that works for everyone.
The comprehensive immigration reform legislation unveiled last month includes provisions similiar to Udall's bipartisan StartUp Visa Act, which would help foreign entrepreneurs and highly skilled college graduates of U.S. universities to create jobs in the United States.
Udall also supported the bipartisan Colorado Compact on immigration and attended its unveiling in early December.