[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 164 (Monday, December 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

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                               speech of

                        HON. PEDRO R. PIERLUISI

                             of puerto rico

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 8, 2010

  Mr. PIERLUISI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
DREAM Act. This bill has been nearly 10 years in the making, and its 
consideration by this House is long overdue.
  The DREAM Act reflects our highest American values--that those who 
are willing to work hard will be given the chance to succeed. Members 
of this chamber often speak eloquently about America being the land of 
opportunity. Today, we can make these words a reality for those young 
people who were brought to this country as children years ago, who have 
done well in school, and who now seek to pursue higher education or 
military service.
  I cannot imagine another group of potential Americans more deserving 
of this opportunity to resolve their immigration status. The DREAM Act 
would provide conditional immigration status to individuals who were 
brought to the U.S. when they were 15 years old or younger, have lived 
in this country for 5 years, and have graduated from a U.S. high school 
or obtained a G.E.D. Only after completing a 13-year-long process would 
these individuals be eligible for citizenship.
  Let's be clear: These young people have done nothing wrong. They had 
virtually no choice in coming to the United States, just as all of us 
here had no choice over whether we were born in the United States--and 
thus were automatically granted U.S. citizenship--or were born in 
another country. We should not continue to punish these commendable 
young men and women for the actions of others by denying them the 
opportunity to attend college or serve in our Nation's armed forces.

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