[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15498]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM IS LONG OVERDUE

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, comprehensive immigration reform is long 
overdue. The leadership the President, the Senate, and the Democrats in 
this body have shown has been tremendous.
  Yes, we must provide a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million 
living in the shadows. Yes, we must provide the promise of the American 
Dream for the millions of youngsters brought here through no fault of 
their own; and, yes, we must ensure that this immigration bill is a 
comprehensive immigration bill, open and accessible to all.
  Diversity visas are one of the few ways and paths that those from 
Africa and the Caribbean have to become American citizens.
  In many African countries, whole cities gather to hear the results of 
the diversity visa lottery. What's more, immigrants from Africa and the 
Caribbean typically are more educated, with the ability to contribute 
to our economy right away.
  If we are going to have true comprehensive immigration reform, then 
we must keep the diversity visa lottery intact at its current levels 
because our diversity is what makes this Nation great.

                          ____________________