[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 17, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H2076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           IMMIGRATION REFORM

  (Mr. GALLEGO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today encouraged that comprehensive 
immigration reform is moving now that a framework has been released by 
our colleagues in the Senate.
  The 23rd Congressional District, which I represent, runs some 800 
miles along the Texas-Mexico border and includes five ports of entry. 
No other congressional district shares a larger border with Mexico.
  After more than two decades, I'm encouraged that our friends in the 
Senate are taking steps and we finally have this framework. I look 
forward to working in a bipartisan and bicameral way to get it done 
this way.
  Our values teach us that our families should stick together and that 
hard work, not circumstance, should shape our future. I believe that 
our Nation becomes stronger as more people pledge allegiance to our 
flag and commit themselves fully to our Nation and to our economy.
  Last week I asked the Senate Gang of Eight to give special 
consideration to members of the armed services who risk their lives 
every day for our country and our families--it's particularly important 
to folks and families at Joint Base Lackland in San Antonio, Laughlin 
Air Force Base in Del Rio, and Fort Bliss in El Paso--and requested 
that comprehensive immigration reform eliminate the 3- and 10-year bar 
on spouses for spouses, prevent the termination of petitions of spouses 
and children of fallen heroes, and streamline the naturalization 
process for those deployed overseas.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to getting it done this 
year.

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