[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 19190]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             THE DREAM ACT

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, the DREAM Act would not only benefit 
undocumented students, but it would benefit the country as well. It is 
estimated that about 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high 
school after living in the United States for at least 5 years. 
Unfortunately, because of current law, only five to 10 percent of these 
students attend college. The remaining 90 to 95 percent remain unable 
to find employment appropriate to their level of academic potential, 
and become victims of the criminal justice and social welfare system.
  Earlier this year, my home State of New Jersey passed a State version 
of this law recognizing that these students deserve to be rewarded for 
their hard work and allowed opportunity just as their peers. 
Furthermore, acknowledging the fact that more than 40 percent of the 
State's scientists and engineers with advanced degrees were foreign 
born in 2006, the economic benefit was taken into account. It was 
understood that, beyond this measure being morally just, it is an 
economic measure as well.
  I ask that we support the DREAM Act.

                          ____________________