Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Florida. Madam Speaker, I don't know of any other district in the United States that more clearly shows the economic contributions of immigrants than my own. You see it everywhere, from the languages spoken on the street to the diverse businesses on every corner. Miami is a town built by immigrants. It is a perfect example of what happens when, instead of forcing people to live in the shadows, you welcome immigrants and you allow them to work and become valued members of the community. Over the last 50 years, south Florida has seen unprecedented growth and has become the gateway to Latin America and its economy. None of this--none of this--would be possible without the hard work of immigrants who came to my community searching for the American Dream, just like my parents did. I would like to share a few of their stories. Jose lives in Homestead. It is an area in my district that produces nearly half of the winter vegetables consumed in the entire United States. He came to this country in 1986 and, despite his best efforts, was unable to gain status. Even after suffering from a workplace accident that resulted in his finger being amputated and another in which he injured his back and arm, he still wakes up every day at 5 a.m. to do whatever needs to be done on the farm, from cleaning to planting to packing. Jose's wife was deported. He is now the primary breadwinner for his family. Both of his parents died in Mexico. He was unable to say good-bye.…”