[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16290]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             THE PROUD ACT

  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I have introduced H.R. 2681, the PROUD Act, 
which will allow motivated students who are immigrants to apply for 
U.S. citizenship.
  America is the land of opportunity. And it is wrong to unfairly 
punish innocent young people who came to America by no choice of their 
own. A high school graduate, upon turning 18, may apply by presenting 
their transcripts to prove that they have completed grades 6 through 
12, show that they understand U.S. history, government, civics, and 
additionally can prove they are of good moral character.
  The PROUD Act will be a positive impact in schools and communities 
throughout the Nation. This is one piece of the puzzle. There is more 
that needs to be done for comprehensive immigration reform.
  Today the President will hold a long anticipated meeting about 
immigration. Now is the time to act. We need reform now more than ever.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2681, the PROUD Act, and work 
towards comprehensive immigration reform.

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