October 24, 2009

Contact: Tolu Olubunmi, United We DREAM Network 202-216-0261 ext.407 (o)

Momentum grows for passage of the DREAM Act

Rounding out a week of great progress towards passage of the DREAM Act were two congressional briefings, about the bill, on Capitol Hill. The Senateriefing was sponsored by Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Lugar (R-IN), while the House briefing was sponsored by Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA) and Diaz-Balart (R-FL). Both briefings were well attended by the congressional staff as well as allies within the immigrants’ rights, youth, civil rights, education and faith-based communities.

The briefings were an opportunity for congressional staff to learn about the bill and ask questions. Undoubtedly, the highlight was listening to the passionate and compelling panelists:

• Louis Caldera – Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress Action Fund
• Dr. Robert G. Templin, Jr. – President, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA)
• Herta Llusho – DREAM student, Michigan
• Noe Guzman – DREAM student, Missouri

Allies and staffers alike were moved to tears as Noe spoke about discovering his immigration status when he went to enlist in the Army – “I was willing to give my life for my country…I still am…but I’m being told I have to leave.” “There are thousands of stories like [ours]… [We] need you to please cosponsor the DREAM Act” Herta added.

The DREAM Act has gained significant momentum in recent weeks. In the past month, seven Senators have signed on as cosponsors of the bill. Additionally, Representative Becerra (D-CA) signed on as a cosponsor in the House. This marks another victory for the movement given his position as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus and a former Chair and current member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. We now currently have 30 cosponsors in the Senate and 103 in the House.

We have made great strides towards passing the DREAM Act, but there is still more to be done. Now is the time to keep this momentum going by doubling our efforts. If your Member of Congress is not yet a cosponsor of the bill, please contact them immediately.  The time to make your voice heard is NOW!!!

###

The United We Dream Network (UWD) is a broad alliance of education, labor, faith-based, civil rights, immigration, and children and family advocacy organizations dedicated to the passage of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, a bipartisan legislation that would permit a select group of undocumented students, conditional legal status and eventual citizenship in the U.S. For more information on the DREAM Act, visit UWD’s website www.dreamactivist.org.

Popularity: 10% [?]