On the recordDecember 8, 2010
The American Dream is the dream of immigrants. It is the belief that our nation invests in those who possess the best ideas, the best work ethics, and the smartest business plans. It is the faith that our actions, not our ancestry, determine what we can achieve. The American Dream is when the daughter of immigrants can grow up and serve in Congress. Across our country, millions of children who have lived here most of their lives--and know no other home--are denied access to their American dreams. These children live under threat of deportation because of their parents' actions, not their own. It is wholly un-American to punish the child for the father's sins. The DREAM Act updates our laws to reflect the principles of our nation and preserve access to the American Dream for these children. The bill creates a path to legalization, dependent upon good moral character, hard work and service. In other words, American values. In my Silicon Valley District, many foreign-born entrepreneurs have built uniquely American businesses--Google, Intel, and Yahoo, to name a few. These companies and many like them have grown our nation's economy, spread our influence, and created hundreds of thousands of jobs for our citizens. These are the fruits of the American Dream. With the passage of the DREAM Act, children across our nation will have the opportunity to be the next great business leader and create the next big idea. Our entire society will benefit from it.
