[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1309-E1310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE IMMIGRANT STORY OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my fellow colleagues 
about the contributions of immigrants to America. In an article in the 
New York Daily News, published June 16, 2006, Mr. Errol Louis told us 
about the opportunities that America has given immigrants to leap from 
``humble, grinding work to middle-class prosperity.''
  Idrisul Alam, whose father has been a cook at the Waldorf-Astoria for 
the past 9 years, is one of the many who was given the chance to make 
something of herself. She graduated first in her class at the High 
School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology in Brooklyn, speaks 
four languages, was an editor of her school newspaper, was a student 
government officer, and raised money for earthquake victims in 
Pakistan. She is planning on studying engineering at Columbia 
University this coming fall.
  Idrisul is only one of the 35 high school seniors whose achievements 
were celebrated in a ceremony at the Sheraton New York last week. 
Michelle Quach who is heading to University of Pennsylvania, Reuben 
Rafaelov who is going to St. John's University, Jessica Acosta who is 
starting classes at Harvard are all shining examples of the triumph of 
the immigrant experience.
  Coming from parents who have had no choice but to perform low rung 
jobs like bellhops, busboys and housekeepers, because of their lack of 
language skills, these children symbolize the success of the dreams and 
wishes of their parents. In light of the controversial national debate 
on immigration and all the immigrant bashing, we need to remind 
ourselves what immigrants bring to our society. I congratulate the New 
York Daily News and Mr. Louis for bringing attention to these 
heartwarming stories about the immigrant experience and reminding us 
about the positive aspects of immigration.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter the article titled From humble 
roots, they blossom by Mr. Errol Louis into the Record.

                    From Humble Roots, They Blossom

                            (By Errol Louis)

       Far away from the speeches and slogans of the national 
     debate over immigration, a simple, inspiring ceremony at the 
     Sheraton New

[[Page E1310]]

     York this week spoke louder than all the posturing and 
     threats coming from immigrant-bashing politicians these days.
       The point of the ceremony was to give plaques, 
     congratulations--and $8,000 scholarships for college--to 35 
     graduating high school seniors whose parents are members of 
     Local 6 of the New York Hotel Trades Council. Local 6 
     represents the invisible New York army that prepares meals, 
     cleans rooms and hails cabs for tourists, diplomats, 
     politicians, movie stars and business titans.
       A great many of these bellhops, busboys and housekeepers 
     are immigrants. ``You don't have to know how to speak English 
     to wash dishes, scrub floors, polish silver or clean 14 
     suites a day, and so hotel jobs have always attracted 
     immigrants,'' is how Local 6 spokesman John Turchiano puts 
     it.
       Hotels attract men like Idris Alam, who traded in his apron 
     for a jacket and tie and made his way to the Sheraton to see 
     his daughter, Idrisul, collect her award. Alam, who has been 
     a cook at the Waldorf-Astoria for the last nine years, was 
     quiet, dignified and understated, like the other parents.
       Even on this joyous day, they carried themselves the way 
     they do on the job: with humility and class. There was none 
     of the silly parental whooping and screaming you normally 
     hear at graduation ceremonies.
       But there was plenty to be happy about. The ceremony 
     showed, in stunning fashion, how New York creates Americans, 
     giving immigrants the chance to leap from humble, grinding 
     work to middle-class prosperity in a single generation.
       Reading thumbnail sketches of the extraordinary 
     achievements of the 35 award winners, it was hard to remember 
     that they are teenagers, barely out of childhood.
       Alam's daughter Idrisul, for instance, finished first in 
     her class at the High School of Telecommunication Arts and 
     Technology in Brooklyn. She speaks four languages, helped 
     edit the school newspaper, was a student government officer 
     and raised money for earthquake victims in Pakistan. She 
     plans to study engineering at Columbia University.
       Michelle Quach, whose father works at the New York Athletic 
     Club, is the valedictorian of DeWitt Clinton High School in 
     the Bronx, captain of the varsity swim team and a volunteer 
     at the New York Chinese School. She's heading to the 
     University of Pennsylvania. Reuben Rafaelov, the 
     valedictorian of Thomas Edison Technical High School in 
     Queens, will be off to St. John's University in the fall.
       Jessica Acosta, whose mother works at the St. Regis, 
     studied flamenco guitar in Spain and is going to Harvard. 
     Innis Baah, who hails from Ghana, plans to study business at 
     Hobart and William Smith College. Nanaba Wallace is on her 
     way to Yale to study politics.
       The national debate on immigration will take a turn in a 
     few years, when these kids are running Congress, the courts 
     and whatever else they set their minds to. And make no 
     mistake about it--these kids will be running the show.
       The festivities ended with a ballroom luncheon for the 
     awardees and their parents--giving the cooks and cleaners a 
     chance to relax and be served for a change.
       On the way out, I asked Alam, the Waldorf cook, how the 
     food tasted.
       ``Fantastic,'' he said. ``Fantastic.''

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