[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 609]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, somewhere in America a young child will 
not be able to see their immigrant parents come home this evening. In 
every State in the Union, there are individuals that are undocumented 
that simply want an opportunity to work and dream here in America.
  I am in the midst of a 1-day fast to encourage the passage of 
reasonable, sensible, comprehensive immigration reform. Yesterday, 119 
Houstonians stood with me to commit to fasting until this bill of 
comprehensive immigration reform is passed: border security; earned 
access to citizenship; elements of paying fines; elements of doing 
charitable work; ensuring that the arts and businesses come together 
and have the resources and talent that they need; and creating jobs.
  In Texas, there are 400,000 immigrants with some billion-plus 
dollars. Removing that would have a terrible impact on the economy. 
Passing comprehensive immigration reform is not only economically 
sound, but it is the humane, dignified thing to do. This Congress must 
come together, Republicans and Democrats, and give dignity to those 
soldiers and others who simply want an opportunity to serve and be part 
of the American Dream.

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