[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 25, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H2618]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address a question that 
the American people have been raising for more than a decade: When will 
we address the question of human dignity of so many who are in our 
country who desire the status of citizenship? When will we pass a 
sensible, reasonable immigration reform legislation or package? Will we 
combine our concern for national security with border security, along 
with human dignity?
  The question is being asked by constituents from my 18th 
Congressional District in Houston. It is being asked by the American 
Jewish Committee. It is being asked by Cardinal DiNardo in the most 
eloquent and passionate way as they met last week to hear from voices 
of those who have not heard the answer. Or the 139 who showed up at a 
press conference some weeks ago, standing with me, demanding that 
people be given their human dignity. Or the leadership from Ireland who 
was here at a St. Patrick's Day luncheon who stood up and asked the 
Speaker, When are we going to put comprehensive immigration reform on 
the floor of the House.
  This is a multicultural challenge to America. This is an economic 
challenge. This is from the Irish. This is from South Asians, from 
Asians. This is from people from Bangladesh, from Poland. It is all 
over America. Let's pass comprehensive immigration reform.

                          ____________________