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11-22-2010 01:09 AM |
Ackerman Lines Up Support for DREAM Act Vote
U.S. Rep. Gary Ackerman (D - Roslyn Heights) began distributing a letter to House Democrats encouraging both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to bring about a floor vote on the DREAM Act during the lame-duck session of Congress, which is set to resume the week of Nov. 29. Already, the letter has generated more than 40 signatures in support of the vote.
The DREAM Act would enable undocumented children – who were brought to the United States before their 16th birthday and have lived in the United States for at least five years with no criminal record – to earn permanent legal status, and begin the process towards citizenship through attending college or joining the Armed Forces. The DREAM Act would benefit an estimated 934,000 students presently in elementary or secondary school.
Many of these students have no memory of life in a country other than the United States.
"The DREAM Act is a humanitarian bill that helps kids who are our neighbors that are being punished for a decision they did not make," Ackerman said.
"All children, documented or undocumented, deserve the same basic educational opportunities that this bill provides," he added. "We must fight to pass this legislation now, before the current Congress ends, because next year we won't have the votes. We owe these children that much."
Source : http://portwashington.patch.com/arti...dream-act-vote
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