[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 13166-13167]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           MEMORIAL DAY AND COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM

  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BACA. As America celebrates Memorial Day next week, let us not 
forget what this day represents. This is a day of reflection to 
remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for this country--the 
men and women who served our country. This includes thousands of 
immigrants who, although not officially citizens, died defending 
America's values we all share.

[[Page 13167]]

  In fact, one of the first U.S. servicemen killed in combat in Iraq 
was an immigrant, Marine Lance Corporal Jose Gutierrez, only 22 years 
old.
  On Memorial Day, immigrant families will also share America's 
reflection of those who gave their lives. But America must not accept 
immigrants one moment and reject them the next.
  Congress must look past tough political decisions and work on real 
comprehensive reform for the sake of those immigrants and their 
families that already gave so much to this country. I urge my 
colleagues and President Obama to work with the CHC to pass 
comprehensive immigration reform.

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