Political Quotes

“Mr. President, the Senate will soon vote on whether we should debate the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act, or the DREAM Act. I have been a cosponsor of this important legislation since it was first introduced in the Senate in 2001, and I commend Senator Durbin and Senator Lugar for their hard work in advancing the DREAM Act this year. At the very least, we should have a debate about this important legislation. Enacting the DREAM Act will serve important priorities for our country and for our military. Under current law, when undocumented students graduate from high school, they typically have no opportunity to gain lawful immigration status, a circumstance that often prevents them from pursuing higher education or making other meaningful contributions to our Nation. The bill recognizes the accomplishments of successful students who want to serve our Nation through military service or by obtaining degrees in higher education. The DREAM Act offers a path to lawful immigration status to individuals who are currently undocumented, but who were brought to the United States at a young age by their parents. The bill is specifically drafted to assist those students who did not act on their own volition to enter the United States unlawfully. In landmark Supreme Court cases like Plyler v. Doe, the Supreme Court held that we should not punish children for the actions of their parents.…”