[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 26, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H5197-H5198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1515
         DISASTER AT THE BORDER IS AFFECTING AMERICAN CHILDREN

  (Mr. GOSAR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight the disaster at 
our southern border and how it is affecting our children.
  This afternoon, I want to read a letter on the House floor from a 
young constituent of mine, Mitch, an 11-year-old from San Tan Valley, 
Arizona, and he had this to say: ``Dr. Gosar, we moved to San Tan 
Valley a couple of years ago from Flagstaff. I am 11 years old and, I 
want to let you know how illegal immigration is affecting me.
  ``My classes are overcrowded. The teachers have to spend more time on 
other children to make sure they are able to take the State-mandated 
tests. This is taking time away from my education. Yes, they need to be 
educated if they are here; however, why should I lose instructional 
time because of the laws?''

[[Page H5198]]

  He goes on further to say: ``Do you know what is being done to help 
with smaller class sizes? Where are we with border control?
  ``My education is important to me. I want to be successful in life. 
The tensions are high at my school because of the illegal immigrants. 
This is how racism is perpetuated, not prevented.
  ``I will be going to a private charter this fall; however, I am still 
concerned because my future wife may not be so lucky to escape this 
problem. My friends are not all able to switch schools.
  ``This is not the way it should be. Please hear me. I hope that you 
can offer guidance. No one knows what the answer is.''
  This is how it is affecting students, and I submit, it is a sad state 
of affairs in southern Arizona.

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