[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 156 (Thursday, September 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             THE DREAM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 28, 2017

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to include in the Record 
letters of support for the DREAM Act from several California colleges 
and universities, and the County of Los Angeles:

                                                September 8, 2017.
     Re Immigration Reform for Undocumented Students.

     Hon. Grace F. Napolitano,
     Longworth House Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Napolitano: On Tuesday, U.S. Attorney 
     General Jeff Sessions announced that the administration 
     planned to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals 
     (DACA) program. This program provides immigrant students 
     brought to the United States as minors the opportunity to 
     enroll in a college or university and seek authorization to 
     work without fear of deportation. To date, nearly 800,000 
     students have applied for DACA status, with nearly one-
     third--223,000--calling California home. These students are 
     currently pursuing academic and vocational pathways that 
     position them for future success; the termination of the DACA 
     program threatens these students, their families, our 
     institutions, and our communities. Accordingly, we implore 
     Congress to act swiftly to create a permanent solution for 
     these students.
       At minimum, we urge the passage of H.R. 496, the ``Bar 
     Removal of Individuals who Dream and Grow our Economy'' or 
     BRIDGE Act, sponsored by Reps. Coffman (R-CO) and Gutierrez 
     (D-IL). This bipartisan bill would codify the DACA program, 
     allowing students registered under DACA to continue their 
     studies and/or maintain the ability to work with a new, 
     protected status for a period of up to three years. It would 
     also safeguard the privacy of their personal information 
     except in cases of national security or criminal 
     investigation.
       More so, we encourage you to adopt a more comprehensive 
     measure, such as H.R. 3440, the DREAM Act of 2017, sponsored 
     by Reps. Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Roybal-Allard (D-CA). This 
     bipartisan bill would create a pathway to permanent legal 
     status for students and military service personnel who call 
     the United States home. In doing so, this more comprehensive 
     measure would communicate that students' and veterans' 
     efforts to work hard, protect our nation, graduate from 
     college, and find meaningful and gainful employment, would 
     give them a permanent opportunity to provide financially for 
     their families, to engage in community and civic life, and, 
     ultimately, to achieve the American dream.
       Though a politically complex issue, we entreat you to act 
     now. An Economist/YouGov poll taken September 3-5, 2017, 
     reveals widespread bipartisan support for the DACA program. 
     Nearly 60% of all registered voters supported or strongly 
     supported DACA, including 53% among Republicans and 70% among 
     Democrats. In addition, more than 55% of voters under age 29 
     and older than age 65 support this program. It enjoyed favor 
     across race, ethnicity, and income levels. In addition, 
     education leaders of private and public institutions across 
     the state have pledged near-universal support for students in 
     the DACA program, and faith communities are overwhelmingly 
     supportive of immigration reform measures that offer 
     protection to DACA/DREAMer students.
                                  ____
                                  
                                             County of Los Angeles


                                         Board of Supervisors,

                              Los Angeles, CA, September 15, 2017.
     Hon. Grace F. Napolitano,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Napolitano: We are writing to 
     respectfully urge you to support a permanent legislative 
     solution for all the recipients of the Deferred Action for 
     Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and their families.
       The pending termination of the DACA program puts at stake 
     the future of nearly 800,000 young people nationwide. 
     California is home to one in four DACA recipients, of which 
     half reside in Southern California. In addition to the 
     personal impact to these young individuals and their 
     families, DACA's termination would hurt the nation's economic 
     viability. Ending DACA and admonishing recipients from the 
     labor force could cost the United States $460.3 billion in 
     GDP and decrease Social Security and Medicare contributions 
     by $24.6 billion over the next decade.
       Action by Congress in the next six months is critical to 
     the future of DACA recipients and our nation. Our Board 
     supports the DREAM Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation that 
     would allow DACA recipients to earn lawful permanent 
     residence and provides them a pathway to American 
     citizenship. The DREAM Act exemplifies the type of strong 
     legislative solution that would allow these young immigrants 
     to continue contributing to our communities.
       Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
           Sincerely,
     Mark Ridley-Thomas,
       Chairman of the Board, Supervisor, Second District.
     Hilda L. Solis,
       Supervisor, First District.
     Sheila Kuehl,
       Supervisor, Third District.
     Janice Hahn,
       Supervisor, Fourth District.
     Kathryn Barger,
       Supervisor, Fifth District.

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