[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 159 (Wednesday, September 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6526-S6527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTION

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      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Padilla):
  S. 2749. A bill to prohibit the use of Federal funds to close or 
relocate the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California; to 
the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the 
``Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego Protection Act,'' which I 
introduced today with Senator Padilla.
  This bill would protect the historic Marine Corps recruit training 
base in San Diego and ensure that Marines have a world-class training 
facility on the West Coast.
  The base became operational in 1921 and began its mission of training 
and ``the making of Marines'' in 1923. On January 1, 1948, Marine Corps 
Base, San Diego was officially renamed Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San 
Diego.
  As needed, the base has increased the number of new Marine recruits 
that it trains to ensure our readiness during periods of conflict.
  For example, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego augmented troop 
training during the Korean War and expanded training during the Vietnam 
War. In recent decades, the base has prepared Marines to fight in the 
conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  The installation's unique Spanish colonial design by Bertram Goodhue 
adds to its historical richness. Twentyfive of the Depot's original 
buildings have been deemed worthy of preservation for their historical 
significance and are part of the National Register of Historic Places.
  In May, the San Diego Depot celebrated its historic graduation of its

[[Page S6527]]

first gender-integrated class of new Marines, well in advance of the 
requirement in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2020 for Marines to conduct integrated gender recruit training by 2028.
  Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego accomplished that mission this 
year, demonstrating the can-do spirit that has animated the base since 
its establishment.
  Our bill would prohibit the closure of the historic Marine Corps 
Recruit Depot located in San Diego. It would protect regional jobs and 
tourist revenue generated by the installation.
  The bill would also eliminate the need for costly new military 
construction if the training mission were relocated, and prevent the 
disruption of families and training.
  Lastly, the bill would guarantee the annual basic training for Marine 
recruits at the place where their fellow Marines have trained for a 
century. On the 100th anniversary of the installation, we must continue 
this critical mission in San Diego and preserve its history.
  It is imperative to maintain facilities that train and prepare our 
Armed Forces to meet the challenges of tomorrow. The protection of the 
Depot preserves an important legacy of the Marine Corps. The 
installation also offers a strategic location to position forces in the 
West.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill. Thank you 
Mr. President. I yield the floor.
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      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Paul, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Collins, 
        and Mr. Coons):
  S. 2753. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to 
authorize lawful permanent resident status for certain college 
graduates who entered the United States as children, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. President, I rise to introduce the ``America's Children Act of 
2021.''
  This legislation would ensure that dependents of immigrants in the 
green card backlog do not age out of their legal immigration status 
when they turn 21 and provides a pathway to permanency for these 
children and young adults.


                         What the Bill Would Do

  This legislation would provide a pathway to permanent residency for 
dependents of nonimmigrant visa holders if they have been a dependent 
for at least 4 years, have lived in the United States for 10 years and 
have graduated from an institution of higher education in the United 
States.
  The bill fills an important gap in our legal immigration system, 
since many immigrants and their families often have to wait decades to 
receive a green card due to numerical limitations and per country caps. 
The children who age out of dependent status have few options to stay 
in the United States once they turn 21 and even fewer paths to 
permanency even though many have only known the United States as their 
home. It is unjust that these children and young people are at risk of 
deportation to their birth countries simply because our legal 
immigration system is outdated.


                         Why the Bill is Needed

  There are an estimated 255,000 children who are or were the 
dependents of parents with lawful work visas, currently awaiting their 
green card processing in the immigration backlog. All of these 
individuals are at risk of deportation at age 21 if their applications 
are not processed in time, or have already aged out of status.
  This bill is a commonsense measure that ensures that children who 
have grown up in our communities and wish to go to a university and 
work in the United States have the opportunity to do so. Most of these 
individuals do not have close ties in their birth countries and 
removing them from the United States would mean separation from their 
families and the life they have always known.
  Thank you Mr. President. I yield the floor.

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