[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           SUPPORT AMIGOS ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to join me 
in fostering increased investment in the United States economy by one 
of our oldest allies, Portugal. As a co-chair of the Congressional 
Portuguese Caucus, I am proud to join Congressmen Cicilline and Valadao 
in leading the AMIGOS Act, which we introduced earlier this spring.
  Earlier this month, Senators Whitehouse and Hatch introduced the 
companion measure of the AMIGOS Act in the United States Senate. This 
bipartisan, bicameral legislation would make Portuguese citizens 
eligible for specific visas that allow them to enter the United States 
to conduct substantial trade or to invest a substantial amount of 
capital. We do this with other nations. This will spur investment in 
our economy, and it helps create jobs.
  In 2015 alone, trade between Portugal and the United States reached 
$4.2 billion, and it is only growing. The AMIGOS Act will strengthen 
this reciprocal economic relationship, one of our longest and strongest 
allies.
  Strengthening relationships that benefit both countries is the best 
way to grow the economy and to increase the number of jobs in the long 
term, not trade tariffs.
  We have extended these visas before. In 2012, Congress granted, most 
recently, eligibility to Israel.
  Our friendship with Portugal and the contributions of hardworking 
Portuguese immigrants in America are an important part of our country's 
history and heritage. Portugal was one of the first countries to 
recognize the United States after we declared our independence, and 
Portugal joined us in being a founding member of NATO.
  The AMIGOS Act is commonsense, bipartisan, and bicameral. It is the 
type of trade policy we should be leading, not engaging in trade wars. 
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the AMIGOS Act and 
working together for strong and stable investment in America's economy 
and American jobs.
  With bipartisan efforts in the House and in the Senate, these are the 
kinds of things that we can do, and I am hopeful that this legislation 
will be enacted into law before the end of the year.


                        Immigrant Heritage Month

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate Immigrant 
Heritage Month.
  At a time when heinous action is being taken in the name of securing 
our borders--and we must secure our borders--I stand here to call on 
every one of my colleagues in Washington, local leaders across the 
United States, and individual Americans and their families. I call on 
all of us to come together and remember we are a Nation of immigrants, 
immigrants past and immigrants present.
  For more than 250 years, immigrants have made our country what it is 
today. Every generation of immigrants contributes new ideas, fresh 
energy, and vibrant culture to our Nation that makes up this mosaic web 
of an incredible place we call America.
  I grew up in California's San Joaquin Valley, which I have the honor 
and privilege to represent. Our valley is a rich combination of people 
whose families have come from all over the world. It is part of this 
fabric, this mosaic, I talk about. They have made California and our 
Nation what it is today through hard work, family values, and lasting 
contributions in so many different ways: the agriculture economy, 
businesses, education, and healthcare systems.
  Their story is our story. It is the story of achieving the American 
Dream. The American Dream lives on. It lives on in all of us.
  Last week, I met with a group of students from my district on the 
Capitol steps, many of whom are children from immigrant families. These 
young people came to Washington to learn about our government and how 
to make a difference. They are our future leaders in the next 
generation who want to achieve this American Dream.
  At a time, Mr. Speaker, when children and Dreamers are being 
leveraged to ram shortsighted and ineffective immigration reform 
through Congress, let us pause. Let's step back. Let's think about what 
our country stands for, our common bonds and our values. I call on all 
of us to come together to reflect that.
  Let us commemorate American Heritage Month with something real. The 
Fourth of July is next week. We celebrate our country. We come together 
in a patriotic fashion, remembering what has made America great. Part 
of what has made America great is generations of folks coming from all 
over the world, wanting to live this dream.
  We must reject that immigration policy being forced through the 
Congress, and we must come together to fix our broken immigration 
system with real, bipartisan reform that provides long-term solutions 
while respecting the dignity and humanity of all people who are part of 
this American Dream.

  As we celebrate the Fourth of July next week, let us never forget 
that our common values and our bonds are far stronger than whatever 
differences we may have.

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