[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18871]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING NATIONAL WEEK OF ACTION FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 21, 2004

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the National Week of 
Action for Immigrant Rights. Scheduled for Monday, September 20, 2004, 
through Sunday, September, 26, 2004, hundreds of community activists 
will mark the National Week of Action by holding rallies, visiting 
Congressional offices, and hosting educational events throughout the 
United States to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the historic 
Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride and highlight the need for comprehensive 
immigration reform.
  It has been nearly one year since hundreds of immigrant workers and 
their supporters traveled throughout the United States as part of the 
Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride. Modeled after the Freedom Rides of the 
1960's, the 2003 Freedom Riders raised awareness about the unjust 
realities of our current immigration policies and urged fair treatment 
of immigrant workers. I was proud to introduce House Resolution 384, 
cosponsored by fifty of my colleagues, to honor the Freedom Riders for 
their courageous campaign and to encourage President Bush and Congress 
to enact policies that support the goals of the Freedom Ride.
  This year's National Week of Action will highlight again the need to 
reform our broken immigration system. Advocates will urge passage of 
H.R. 4262, the Safe, Orderly Legal Visas and Enforcement (SOLVE) Act, 
H.R. 3142, the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security 
(AGJOBS) Act, and other legislation which would fix our immigration 
system while honoring our tradition as a nation of immigrants and 
strengthening our national security.
  The National Week of Action includes a fast by students and 
supporters to highlight the need for passage of S. 1545, the 
Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, and 
H.R. 1684, the Student Adjustment Act. I am a proud original cosponsor 
of H.R. 1684, bipartisan legislation to open the doors of higher 
education to immigrant students who work hard and deserve the 
opportunity to attend college and pursue the American dream.
  Throughout our nation's history, we have welcomed immigrants to this 
country. We should continue to honor this tradition and recognize the 
enormous economic and cultural contributions that immigrants have made 
to our nation.
  I commend the New American Opportunity Campaign (NAOC) for 
spearheading the National Week of Action and honor the commitment of 
its supporters to ensure equal rights for all people. I encourage my 
colleagues and the American public to use the National Week of Action 
to learn more about our immigrant community and the need for reform of 
our immigration system.

                          ____________________