Hispanic National Bar Association Annual Convention

-Introduction

Thank you Juan Sempertegui for that kind introduction.

Congressman Luis Gutierrez is here -- it was great to see you in Chicago with Sen. Dick Durbin last weekend.

Rep. Gutierrez is a powerful champion of national immigration reform and a tireless advocate for the humane treatment of immigrants and New Americans.

Today's theme, "Unidos en Washington: Our Struggle, Our Progress," is especially poignant as it coincides with the anniversary of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 --

Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected by that tragedy,

And we're also reminded of the way Americans of every race, ethnicity and background were united by the events of that day.

But in talking about today's theme let me start where most Americans do.

-Beginning From Zero

Our ancestors took frightening risks to come here.

As the Chilean- American novelist, Isabel Allende wrote: "when you emigrate, you lose the crutches that have been your support. You must begin from zero, because the past is erased with a single stroke and no one cares where you're from or what you did before."

My immigrant great-grandfather, whose name was also Martin O'Malley, came to this country from Ireland.

His native tongue was not English, but the hopes and dreams he carried in his heart for his children were purely American -- and he was willing to press through the fire and the fear of the unknown for nothing more than the promise to begin from zero.

The New Americans he worked beside risked their lives in the mines of southwest Arizona to feed their families, in the spirit of hope, in pursuit of a dream of more, not less.

New Americans today, come here with that same spirit, that drive, that desire to leave the world better than they found it.

It's a spirit that has always served our nation's prosperity.

-More, not less

And that's why we believe in Maryland that diversity is our greatest strength.

We believe that we all do better when we're all doing better.

My friend, Paul Hawken, puts it in more scientific terms. He writes, "Ecologists and biologists know that systems achieve stability and health through diversity, not uniformity. Ideologues take the opposite view."

In Maryland, we know that it's a good thing for our state that more than half of our population growth since 2000 -- 55% -- is due to growing immigrant communities.

This compares to 30 percent nationally.

But we also recognize reality. We know that everyone doesn't always welcome new immigrants with open arms.

I keep a sign in my office that says "Irish Need Not Apply." It's a reminder that we were all once strangers in this land. And it's a reminder that we must be diligent about doing all that we can to ensure that we respect the dignity of every individual, and that never lose sight of the fact that our diversity is our strength.

-Maryland Immigration Record

In Maryland, we strongly support comprehensive immigration reform. But have not waited for the federal government to act.

In 2011, we passed the Maryland DREAM Act, so that our 36,000 Dreamers could have access to affordable higher education.

We expanded access to driver's licenses, because we want people to be able to get to work safely, and for people to be able to get insurance.

And we limited our state's participation in the Secure Communities program. We want to keep families together. Keeping families together keeps America together and makes America stronger.

It's not enough to just make sure Maryland is a welcoming place for new Americans. Our goal is to build an ever more diverse and upwardly mobile middle class, and that's exactly what we've done.

We passed a living wage, a higher minimum wage, we expanded the Earned Income Tax Credit twice.

We've done more to hold down the rising costs of college tuition than any other state in the nation.

We've invested a record amount in the small, minority and women-owned business investment account.

And we've worked to award more state contracts to Hispanic-owned businesses -- up 191% since FY '07.

-Results

These things did not happen by chance, they happened by choice.

And the results speak for themselves:

For three years in a row the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has ranked Maryland the #1 state in America for innovation and entrepreneurship.

We have the #1 public schools in the country for 5 years in a row.

From 2006 to 2012 associate degrees awarded to Hispanic students were up 159% while bachelor's degrees were up 64%.

And the Hispanic unemployment rate in Maryland is the lowest in the nation -- 5.1% here compared to 9.1% nationally.

The progress we've worked to achieve for all Marylanders hasn't weakened our state.

We're stronger for it.

We've seen more opportunity for all, not less.

-Participation is Good

The happy fact of American democracy is -- the more fully a person participates in the economic, social, and civic life of our Nation, the stronger it makes our country.

When all can fully participate, then every individual has a chance to advance and expand the common good that we all share.

Father David Hollenbach of Boston College writes,

"Achieving this good calls for a common life in which freedom is more fully shared, for a society in which all people more fully participate in the common goods that can be achieved in their social, political, and economic activity together."

For our own good,…We want more people to participate more fully.

For our family's good,…We want more people to vote.

For our own children's good,… We want more students to excel in school and go to college, we want more families to be economically secure, and we want more people to be able to open businesses and create jobs.

And when unaccompanied children fleeing violence in Central America arrive on our doorstep, it is for their good, and ours, that we treat them with the hospitality that our shared human dignity demands.

Already, the state of Maryland is caring for more of these children per capita than any other state in the nation.

We've worked together with faith leaders, non-profits, and other community activists to provide support services to the children that are here.

Earlier this week, the Chief Justice of Maryland's highest court helped our efforts by sending a letter to 30 bar organizations across our state, encouraging lawyers to provide pro bono legal representation to these children.

And now I'm also calling on you, the members of the Hispanic Bar Association to help these children.

Help them navigate the legal process, and get them the compassionate care they need.

If you are already working on this issue, you have my gratitude.

If you want to volunteer -- visit Maryland.gov and click on the link for the "Central American Children Seeking Refuge Program."

-Conclusion

Hospitality to strangers is a deep and timeless value found in the parables, teachings, and stories of every faith tradition -- the three strangers who visit Sarah and Abraham, the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Haditha story of the Prophet and the feeding of the strangers. "And God smiled."

Hospitality to strangers and full participation in the life of our Democracy are indispensable parts of the genius of this opportunity-expanding experiment we love and call, The United States of America.

This is the truth of E Pluribus Unum--from the participation of many individuals comes the strength of one strong and living Republic.

Every person is needed, and each of us must try.

For truly there is no such thing as a spare American.

Thank you for your work.

Keep fighting for a better tomorrow.

Keep speaking up and giving your voice to the voiceless.

And thank you.

Source