Linda Sánchez Applauds Senate for Addressing DREAM Act (June 28 2011)

Washington, DC –Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-39) issued this statement regarding today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the DREAM Act.

"I applaud the Senate for holding its first hearing on the DREAM Act and looking at this crucial piece of the overall immigration reform puzzle," said Congresswoman Sánchez. "I would encourage the House Republican leadership to also address this important issue. We can't continue to ignore our broken immigration system.

"I proudly voted to support this common sense immigration reform in the last Congress," Sánchez continued. "These hard-working students only want to give back to the country they call home. We should allow them the ability to contribute to our economic recovery or defend our nation. We are endangering our economic future by sending intelligent, hard-working young to countries they barely know with the knowledge and skills to economically compete with American businesses."

Congresswoman Sánchez has been a consistent advocate for the DREAM Act and was one of 216 Representatives to support its passage last Congress. This bi-partisan legislation will give children who grew up in our neighborhoods the opportunity to earn a pathway to legal residency.

The DREAM Act is narrow, targeted legislation that has had broad support in the past including by the Pentagon, the University of California System, Catholic Charities, and numerous business groups, including the LA Area Chamber of Commerce.