Congressman Hinojosa spoke today on the floor of the
U.S. House of Representatives urging support for the American Dream Act
and to honor a Dream Act student who took his own life. Here is his
speech in its entirety.
“MR. CHAIRMAN, IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS
THAT I RISE TO URGE MY COLLEAGUES, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, TO PASS
THE AMERICAN DREAM ACT.
THIS PAST WEEKEND, I LEARNED OF THE TRAGIC
DEATH OF JOAQUIN LUNA, A SENIOR AT JUAREZ LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL IN
MISSION, TEXAS WHO TOOK HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THAT HE WOULD NEVER
BE ABLE TO FULFILL HIS DREAM OF BECOMING AN ENGINEER, EARNING HIS
CITIZENSHIP, AND LEADING A FULL AND PROSPEROUS LIFE IN AMERICA.
BROUGHT
TO THE UNITED STATES AS AN INFANT, JOAQUIN ATTENDED OUR NATION'S PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, PLAYED THE GUITAR AT HIS CHURCH, AND HOPED TO GO TO COLLEGE
AND ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
I CANNOT EXPRESS THE SORROW I
FEEL ON THE LOSS OF SUCH A TALENTED YOUNG MAN. I WANT TO EXTEND MY
HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO JOAQUIN'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS; I CANNOT IMAGINE
THE PAIN THEY ARE SUFFERING. IT IS ESPECIALLY HEARTBREAKING TO KNOW
THAT MANY OF US IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSED THE DREAM
ACT AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR, ONLY TO SEE THE LEGISLATION HELD UP IN THE
U.S. SENATE BY A VOTE OF 55 TO 41.
TODAY, AS JOAQUIN LUNA'S BODY
IS LAID TO REST, I BELIEVE IT'S IMPERATIVE TO UNDERSCORE THE URGENCY OF
PASSING THE DREAM ACT IN THE 112TH CONGRESS AND RENEWING HOPE FOR DREAM
STUDENTS.
AS A PROUD COSPONSOR OF H.R. 1842, "THE DEVELOPMENT,
RELIEF, AND EDUCATION FOR ALIEN MINORS ACT OF 2011" (THE DREAM ACT), I
URGE PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE TO
PUT THEIR IDEOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES ASIDE AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT.
NOW
MORE THAN EVER, WE MUST GIVE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PURSUE
THEIR COLLEGE AND CAREER GOALS, RESOLVE THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS, AND
EARN THEIR CITIZENSHIP.
THE DREAM ACT WOULD ALLOW
THESE STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EARN LEGAL STATUS IF THEY: WERE 15
YEARS OLD OR YOUNGER WHEN THEY WERE BROUGHT TO AMERICA; ARE LONG-TERM
U.S. RESIDENTS AND HAVE LIVED IN THE UNITED STATES FOR AT LEAST FIVE
YEARS BEFORE THE ENACTMENT OF THE LAW; HAVE GOOD MORAL CHARACTER;
GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL OR OBTAIN A GED; AND COMPLETE TWO YEARS OF
COLLEGE OR MILITARY SERVICE IN GOOD STANDING.
HAVING BEEN BROUGHT BY THEIR PARENTS TO THE UNITED STATES AS CHILDREN, THESE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN KNOW AMERICA AS THEIR HOME.
WITHOUT
QUESTION, DREAM STUDENTS EXEMPLIFY THE BEST OF AMERICAN IDEALS: SUCH AS
HARD WORK, PERSEVERANCE, AND THE DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR NATION'S
WORKFORCE, ECONOMY AND CIVIC LIFE.
IN THE RÍO GRANDE VALLEY OF
DEEP SOUTH TEXAS AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY, DREAM STUDENTS HAVE EXCELLED IN
SCHOOL, AND BECOME VALEDICTORIANS, AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLARS, AND
STUDENT LEADERS, DESPITE FACING DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
AS
RANKING MEMBER FOR THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE
TRAINING, I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT DREAM STUDENTS CAN HELP AMERICA ACHIEVE
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S AMBITIOUS HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE COMPLETION GOALS BY
THE YEAR 2020.
MANY OF THESE STUDENTS ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO EARN
THEIR HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DIPLOMAS AND ASPIRE TO BECOME
PROFESSIONALS IN THE SECTORS OF OUR WORKFORCE WHICH NEED THEIR TALENT,
SKILLS, AND INGENUITY.
IN THE AREAS OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM), FOR EXAMPLE, OUR COUNTRY MUST TRAIN
A NEW GENERATION OF HIGH-SKILLED SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND
MATHEMATICIANS -- TO BOLSTER SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY AND SPUR TECHNOLOGICAL
INNOVATION. SIMPLY STATED, THESE TALENTED YOUTH CAN HELP OUR NATION
INCREASE ITS GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS AND BE THE INNOVATORS OF TOMORROW.
FINALLY,
IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE DREAM ACT HAS ENJOYED BROAD,
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FROM MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE. THEY INCLUDE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION ARNE
DUNCAN, FORMER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ROBERT GATES, FORMER SECRETARY OF
STATE COLIN POWELL, AND CARLOS GUTIERREZ, FORMER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH.
CHANCELLORS AND UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS AND
THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS, AND PROMINENT EDUCATION,
BUSINESS, RELIGIOUS LEADERS, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS SUPPORT THE DREAM ACT
BECAUSE IT IS HUMANE AND SENSIBLE. IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO!
I
ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD BERMAN AND REP. LUCILLE
ROYBAL-ALLARD (ORIGINAL SPONSOR) AND SENATOR RICHARD DURBIN FOR THEIR
EXTRAORDINARY LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE.
IN CLOSING, I URGE MY
COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE TO JOIN ME IN HONORING THE LIFE OF
JOAQUIN LUNA BY COSPONSORING H.R. 1842, "THE DREAM ACT" AND GIVING
THESE DESERVING STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MEANINGFUL
CONTRIBUTIONS AS A PART OF OUR NATION'S WORKFORCE, IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL AMERICANS.”
link
