Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2010
Floor Speech
Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, over the past several months I have thought quite a bit about what I would do if the DREAM Act came to the floor for a vote. I have studied the legislation and how it affects our current immigration laws. I have looked into how the DREAM Act would affect things like student loans, grants and other Federal subsidies. I have spoken with constituents, both for and against, about the legislation. I have considered the affect of the DREAM Act being signed into law on the prospect of comprehensive immigration reform--I asked, most importantly, does this simply allow us kick the can on that matter down the road for yet a few more years?
Today, Madam Speaker, I rise in favor of the legislation. As I mentioned, it has taken me some time to come to this conclusion, as I am tired of throwing patches at the immigration problem. Ultimately, we need a comprehensive immigration reform bill, and Madam Speaker, we need it desperately. However, I cannot in good conscience hold hostage young people who were brought to this country by their parents to a comprehensive reform bill. The DREAM Act is a small patch for a problem that has eluded our Nation for decades. Our country needs comprehensive reform, not piecemeal fixes.
All of this said, the DREAM Act will provide opportunity and hope to young immigrants brought to this country by their parents who, through no fault of their own, cannot be a meaningful part of our society without this Act. Most of these individuals speak English as well or better than their native tongue and they consider the United States their home, but they cannot realize their dreams because of their immigration status.
The DREAM Act is no ``get-out-of-jail-free card,'' however. For individuals who meet minimum qualifications, such as being in the United States for 5 years before enactment and under 16 years old before coming here, the DREAM Act requires that its beneficiaries participate in one of the two most enduring institutions of American society: military service or higher education. In addition, DREAM Act beneficiaries must be in a conditional immigration status for a decade before becoming legal permanent residents. In so doing, the DREAM Act only gives legal status to those who really want to be here and at the same time creates new horizons for an untapped and eager group of young people to contribute to the country's long-term well-being. Indeed, improving our military readiness, increasing the number of college-educated workers, and expanding the Federal, State, and local tax base are among the bill's virtues. And the DREAM Act will not allow a ``chain migration'' as some opponents of the law have been saying. In fact, only after a DREAM Act beneficiary waits the full 13 years it would take to become a U.S. citizen are they able to petition for immediate family to gain legal status in the United States. Immediate family would have to wait in family immigration lines before being able to immigrate. And family members already here illegally face additional barriers under current law that will continue to make it difficult to obtain legal status. That is not a ``get-out-of-jail-free card.''
As I stated earlier, I do not vote for this bill without reservations. The DREAM Act is just a temporary fix to a serious problem. It is my sincere hope that within the year period required by the bill for individuals to apply, we will be able to consider, in a bipartisan manner, a comprehensive bill that will fix our broken system.
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