[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1532]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           IMMIGRATION REFORM

  (Mr. COFFMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I had a career in the military with a 
combined 21 years between the United States Army, the Army Reserve, the 
United States Marine Corps, and the Marine Corps Reserve.
  During the course of my military career, I met so many extraordinary 
young men and women who served our country in uniform and who made 
tremendous sacrifices in defense of our freedom. I strongly believe 
that the highest expression of citizenship in America is exemplified by 
those who serve in our Armed Forces.
  In my hometown of Aurora, Colorado, I've recently met young people 
who grew up in Aurora, went to school in our community, and know of no 
other country than America. Some of them want to join the military, but 
because of their immigration status, they cannot.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that they should be allowed to join and given 
an opportunity to earn their citizenship by serving our country, their 
country, in the military.

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