[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 164 (Monday, December 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2117-E2118]
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. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 8, 2010

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
DREAM Act and in support of thousands of Florida students--and families 
and businesses in my community--who will benefit when we pass it.
  Our great Nation is built upon the fundamental principles of liberty, 
equality and opportunity.
  These values apply to all, except for a small group of young people 
who have been stuck

[[Page E2118]]

in limbo through no fault of their own and face obstacles to education 
and productivity.
  Here are a few examples:
  A young woman from central Florida came to the United States from 
Costa Rica with her family when she was very young. She graduated from 
an arts magnet school with a 4.2 GPA. She was accepted to every school 
she applied to, but she couldn't attend any because tuition was too 
high and she didn't qualify for financial aid. The DREAM Act will help.
  An Armwood High School valedictorian faced obstacles as he tried to 
get college financial aid and scholarships. Despite perfect grades, he 
had a tough time getting the financial help he needed. The DREAM Act 
will help.
  A young woman I personally know well was born in Mexico City and grew 
up with only her mother after she was brought to America as a baby. 
Despite stellar grades in high school, she was ineligible for in-state 
college tuition.
  ``It would have given me a lot more opportunities,'' she says. ``It 
would have made me part of the fabric of this country that I have lived 
in my whole life and that I have contributed to my whole life.''
  In Florida, in-state tuition costs about $5,200 per year, but out-of-
state at the University of South Florida, $16,000. At the University of 
Florida, it exceeds $25,000. These students are barred from Florida's 
Bright Futures scholarship. Thousands of students are in this 
predicament. For them, hope is extinguished.
  The DREAM Act will breathe new life into the hopes and dreams of 
thousands of young people who only know America as their home. We need 
to support and encourage higher education, instead of preventing and 
discouraging these teens from attending college or serving in the armed 
forces.
  The DREAM Act would allow students who entered the U.S. before their 
16th birthday, who have lived in the country for at least five years, 
who are in good moral standing and who have graduated from high school 
to be classified as permanent residents and pursue a path toward 
citizenship. As permanent residents, they would be able to apply for 
in-state tuition and federal student financial aid, enabling them to 
pursue the American Dream of higher education.
  Young adults could also earn conditional permanent residency status 
if they complete 2 years in the military.
  I am proud to co-sponsor this vital legislation and look forward to 
its swift passage so we can help put our hard-working and intelligent 
students on the road to citizenship.

                          ____________________