[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 162 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H8267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             THE DREAM ACT

  (Mr. SCHIFF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, for the past three Congresses, I've been an 
enthusiastic cosponsor of the DREAM Act, which I see as an essential 
component of comprehensive immigration reform.
  No child raised in America should be permanently penalized for the 
immigration status of their parents. The DREAM Act gives young people a 
chance to contribute to the United States, often the only country they 
know. I've heard from many high school students in my district who have 
done everything right, but discover when they apply to college that 
they are not a citizen, that the doors of education and a better life 
they have worked for so hard are closed to them.
  The U.S. has a proud tradition of welcoming immigrants who want to 
work hard and play by the rules and build a better life for themselves 
and their families. The DREAM Act comes from that tradition. It will 
make our economy, military, and Nation stronger.
  Yesterday evening I was proud to cast an ``aye'' vote on the rule to 
bring the DREAM Act to the floor. I was not on the floor later that 
night and missed the final vote on the act. Had I been present, I would 
have enthusiastically voted ``aye,'' and I urge my Senate colleagues to 
take up the legislation in the remaining days of the 111th Congress.

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