Jim Sensenbrenner: “As someone who represents a district with a large Arab American population, I can tell my colleagues that they…”

“As someone who represents a district with a large Arab American population, I can tell my colleagues that they contribute mightily to our community in so many different ways. My grandparents came to Peoria, Illinois, in 1895 from a region of Lebanon and settled in Peoria; and as a result of their being the first Lebanese Americans to settle in our neck of the woods, they were able to persuade others to come over. In those days, I am sure they were not known as Arab Americans. They were known as immigrants who came to America seeking the American Dream, and I think that has been true for decades of Arab Americans who have come to this country and contributed an awful lot to our society and contributed a lot to the growth of our country and the stability of our country. It was not till 9/11, I think, until maybe people had a different point of view about Arab Americans and also perhaps Muslims; but these people have contributed so much, and I think it is important for Congress to speak out in a way that says that these folks are good Americans, they are good citizens. They contribute a great deal to our country.”