[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 148 (Monday, September 23, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6325-S6326]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                               DREAM Act

  Madam President, on another topic, it has been more than 20 years--20 
years--since I introduced a bill known as the DREAM Act.
  This legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship for young 
immigrants known as Dreamers, who were brought to our country as 
children. The DREAM Act would allow these young people to remain in the 
only home they have ever known, the United States of America.
  In 2010, I sent a letter, joined by then-Senator Richard Lugar, a 
Republican from Indiana, asking President Obama to stop the deportation 
of Dreamers.
  Twelve years ago, President Obama responded by announcing the DACA 
Program, which has protected more than 830,000 Dreamers from being 
deported.
  These young people grew up alongside our kids with the same hopes and 
the same dreams. They came to their classroom each day and pledged 
allegiance to the same flag. These young people grew up and wanted to 
serve our country as doctors and teachers and engineers, first 
responders, and so many more valuable contributions to America. They 
contribute to our Nation virtually every single day. Yet they live in 
fear of their lives being uprooted because of congressional inaction 
and ongoing litigation.
  The best way to understand this issue is to hear their stories. That 
is why, today, I would like to introduce you to the 144th and 145th 
Dreamers, whose stories I have shared on the floor of the Senate.
  During Hispanic Heritage Month, these stories should give us even 
more appreciation for the contributions that immigrants make to our 
Nation.
  Here are Giovani and Michael Pimentel. They were born in Mexico and 
brought to the United States when they were 6 years old. They were 
raised in Greenville, TX. They had to quickly learn English and found 
an extra need to ``prove themselves'' in this new country. They were 6 
years old.
  They graduated from high school in the top 10 percent of their class 
and went on to Texas A&M University. Michael graduated from college 
with a triple major in chemistry, mathematics, and biology. Giovani 
graduated with degrees in public health and political science.
  Michael went on to earn his master's degree from Stanford University, 
and he is now pursuing his doctorate in pharmacology. Michael has 
observed disparities in the care of loved ones undergoing chemotherapy. 
As a result, he aims to specialize in oncology medication to improve 
outcomes for cancer patients, regardless of where they are from or what 
language they speak.
  Meanwhile, Giovani attended Loyola University New Orleans College of 
Law and graduated with honors. He became a licensed attorney in 
California in November 2022 and began working in unemployment law. He 
sat for the Texas bar in July, and his goal is to support the Texas 
Legislature as a legislative counsel.

[[Page S6326]]

  To Michael, DACA means hope--hope that the United States will one day 
accept Dreamers and allow them to remain here without the threat of 
deportation. To Giovani, DACA signifies promise--a promise to Dreamers 
that if they work hard and contribute to America, they will be granted 
protection and a pathway to citizenship.
  It is long past time that we uphold our end of the bargain. Michael 
and Giovani are not only role models; they are living representations 
of the American dream. It is time for us in Congress to protect these 
Dreamers.
  Unfortunately, since President Obama established DACA, Republicans 
have waged a relentless, unending campaign to overturn this stopgap 
solution and to deport Dreamers like Michael and Giovani back to 
countries they do not even remember.
  This war against immigrants is mindless. We need to be safe for sure, 
but how can we ignore what immigrants have meant to this country? Last 
week, I went for a routine hospital procedure here in Washington. It 
was noteworthy that the doctor I had was from Syria, a young woman from 
Syria, the anesthesiologist was from Germany, and my nurse was from 
Ethiopia. Do you think I would bemoan these immigrants and want them to 
return to their country? I thank all three of them for coming to 
America and making this a stronger and better country and giving 
quality, professional medical service. It happens day in and day out.
  I want to urge my colleagues not to ignore these Dreamers and their 
lives, which are at stake every single day. They need to live in 
America without fear of deportation. It is time for Congress to get to 
work on a bipartisan basis to pass the Dream Act. It was the right 
thing to do 20 years ago; it is the right thing to do today. These 
young Dreamers prove my case every single day of their lives.
  I thank Members of the Senate who have supported me. We need more in 
the future.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Illinois.

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