Yvette Clarke: “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It is my honor tonight to stand here as a second-generation American coming from a…”

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. It is my honor tonight to stand here as a second-generation American coming from a district where many people come as immigrants to make the United States their home. Some of those people, many of those people, are residents of our Nation and want to become citizens. Some are undocumented. Many of them are young people, are children who go through our school systems and look just like me. I am proud to stand here today because those young people have been law abiding and know this place as their home, have never known their place of origin but understand that the work that they do each and every day in our schools and in our communities accrue to a stronger Nation. Tonight, we have the opportunity to make their dreams a reality, their dreams to do more than to stand and defend our flag, to give their lives as many give their lives for the freedoms of America. Today, we make sure that that dream is fulfilled and they fulfill their obligation as new Americans in our Nation. The DREAM Act will be a reality tonight, and I am proud to cast my vote in favor of those young people.”