LULAC Congratulates House on Passage of the DREAM Act
December 8, 2010
Contact: Lizette Jenness Olmos, (202) 365-4553 mobile
Senate needs to follow House leadership in a vote tomorrow
Washington, DC – WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the League of United Latin American Citizens, the nation’s largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the country, cheered the historic vote in the House of Representatives and implored the Senate to clear the first procedural hurdle towards approving the bill in a vote scheduled for tomorrow morning.
This evening, the House passed the legislation by a vote of 216 to 198.
“Passing the DREAM Act honors and rewards those who have shared their gifts and put their lives at risk for our country,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “By harnessing the talent and commitment of so many young Americans, it means a more prosperous nation for all of us. We are thankful to the leaders in Congress who voted for the bill, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who fought with us to pass this bill.”
In addition to rewarding the academic achievement and military service of thousands by offering a path to citizenship, the DREAM Act will inspire a generation of children to contribute to the strength and success of the United States. The legislation will also reduce the deficit. The Congressional Budget Office reported last week that the DREAM Act will create at least $2.3 billion in revenue over the next ten years, drastically cutting the deficit by $1.4 billion.
Today’s version of the DREAM Act is a far cry from what was first offered in 2001 by Senators Richard Durbin and Richard Lugar. The bill is the result of difficult concessions that were made over the last week to build support in the Senate and the House. The bipartisan coalition that emerged from these negotiations demonstrated the leadership and cooperation that the American people crave, and the bill that they passed will leave a legacy of goodwill and prosperity for decades to come.
LULAC urges the Senate leadership to follow in the House footsteps. The DREAM Act is common-sense legislation drafted by both Republicans and Democrats that would give students who grew up in the United States a chance to contribute to our country’s well-being by serving in the U.S. armed forces or pursuing a higher education. Because it is the right thing to do, the DREAM Act has long enjoyed bipartisan support.
The League of United Latin American Citizens, the largest and oldest Hispanic membership organization in the country, advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating through 880 LULAC councils nationwide.
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