Political Quotes

“I rise today to discuss an issue that I have been working on for quite some time. It was over 20 years ago that I introduced the DREAM Act. I introduced it with Republican Senator Orrin Hatch, who was then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. In fact, there was a little competition, at the start, as to who would be the first named on the bill. Senator Hatch insisted that he had the idea before me. I deferred to him, as being in the majority and as chairman of the committee. This bipartisan legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship for young immigrants brought to the United States as children and allow them to remain in this country--in fact, the only country they have ever called home. These young people grew up alongside our own children, with the same hopes of getting their first job, applying to college, getting a driver's license, having a bright future. And many have gone on to serve as doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and first responders. Yet, without congressional action for more than two decades, every day is spent in fear of their lives being uprooted, facing fear of deportation. I am amazed when I think about the issue of immigration.…”