[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 167 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2162]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEVELOPMENT, RELIEF, AND EDUCATION FOR ALIEN MINORS (DREAM) ACT OF 2010

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                               speech of

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 8, 2010

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the 
Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act.
  This legislation provides minors who were brought to the U.S. as 
children a path to legal status, and eventually citizenship. To qualify 
for conditional status for five years. an individual must be 29 years 
old or younger, have lived in the U.S. for 5 years prior to enactment, 
graduate from an American high school, and meet numerous other 
requirements. After five years, an individual may apply for an 
additional five years of conditional status only if they have completed 
at least two years of post-secondary education or served two years in 
the U.S. Armed Forces. Following this second five year period, a person 
that has continued to meet the conditions of this bill would be able to 
file for legal permanent status. Only, after three years in this 
status, 13 years total. would a person be eligible to apply for 
citizenship.
  Contrary to the rhetoric on the other side, the DREAM Act is anything 
but amnesty. Instead, this bill is a bipartisan acknowledgement that a 
significant number of children currently live in this country with no 
legal status and no avenue to gain legal status. Without this 
legislation. we are essentially telling individuals who have grown up 
here, assimilated to our culture, and obtained a high school education 
that the only home for them is in another country. That is both wrong 
and counterproductive.
  Those that would be eligible under this legislation are motivated, 
smart young people who want nothing more than to utilize their skills 
and education here in America by going to college or serving in the 
Armed Forces. Not only is the passage of this bill the right thing to 
do, but it would be foolish for a country whose economic prosperity 
depends upon an educated workforce to let these young people take their 
talents abroad.
  The DREAM Act provides young people who have done nothing wrong the 
opportunity to come out of the shadows, build a life in America, and 
contribute to the prosperity of our nation.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for this important 
legislation.

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