[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 162 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2097-E2098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    DEVELOPMENT, RELIEF, AND EDUCATION FOR ALIEN MINORS ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 8, 2010

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for H.R. 
1751, the American Dream Act.
  Each year, thousands and thousands of exemplary students graduate 
from high school and find their dreams of securing a job or attending 
college deferred because of their immigration status.
  These kids worked diligently through high school just like their 
peers, often taking Advanced Placement classes to give themselves a 
leg-up in the college application process.
  But through no fault of their own, these students face an 
unsurpassable obstacle: their status as an ``undocumented'' American. 
In honor of each of these ambitious young people, I am proud to support 
the DREAM Act tonight.

[[Page E2098]]

  This bipartisan legislation provides undocumented young people in the 
United States with conditional residency and a pathway to citizenship 
if they came here before the age of 16 and maintained a continuous 
residency for 5 years. These young people must also graduate from high 
school or obtain a GED, have no criminal records and either serve their 
country in the military or attend college for at least two years.
  Since the first introduction of this legislation in 2001, an untold 
number of accomplished and determined immigrant students have been 
denied the right to citizenship, at severe cost to our nation 
economically and socially.
  I am proud to not only count myself among DREAM Act supporters, but 
also as an active recruiter to convince some of my more conservative 
colleagues to sign their name on, too.
  Tonight is a wonderful night for countless talented young people 
across our nation. I will proudly vote ``yes'' on the American DREAM 
Act.

                          ____________________