Political Quotes

“Passage of this amendment that has just been offered would prevent lawful permanent residents from making campaign contributions and expenditures to Federal elections. I want to explain, Mr. Chairman, what defines a legal permanent resident. These individuals represent approximately 4 percent of the U.S. population. In fiscal year 1998, 660,000 legal immigrants came to the United States, according to the INS. The vast majority of legal immigrants came to the United States to join close family members, to fill jobs that no qualified U.S. citizen has taken after the job was advertised by the employer, and to escape persecution based on political opinion, race, religion, national origin or membership in a particular social group. I want to point out that these individuals are integral stakeholders in our society. They invest in, and they contribute to, our communities in countless ways just as citizens do. Permanent residents, or citizens-in-waiting, pay Federal taxes on their worldwide income as well as State and local taxes. And, moreover, permanent residents are required to register for the draft, and many of them in fact are veterans. Nearly 20,000 legal residents are now serving voluntarily in our armed forces. Moreover, more than 20 percent of the Congressional Medal of Honor recipients in U.S. wars have been legal immigrants or naturalized Americans.”