[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 97 (Tuesday, July 9, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H4224]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM

  (Mr. POLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call upon this body to pass 
comprehensive immigration reform.
  Moments ago, I was at a mock graduation of hundreds of Dreamers. 
These are young, de facto Americans, Americans who are as American as 
you or I, grew up, played on the sports team, were cheerleaders, in 
some cases valedictorians in their high schools, and yet they lack the 
paperwork to prove that they are Americans.
  They are as American in their hearts as any of us and have so much to 
give to the great country in which they grew up. And yet they are 
prevented from doing so by the failure of this body to act.
  I applaud President Obama's deferred action program, at least a 
temporary solution to allow these young de facto Americans to have the 
paperwork they need to get a job or get a driver's license. But there's 
no certainty there.
  What becomes of them in 2 years, in 4 years?
  How do they know that the time that they spend investing and earning 
a college degree will be able to pay off with a good job down the road?
  It's time for this body to take up action on the Senate bill or pass 
a comprehensive House bill. We have a unique window of opportunity to 
do something very important for our economy, creating jobs for 
Americans, important for our national security, and important for the 
future of our country.

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