Speaking to several hundred Hispanic leaders at the Latino Leaders Network luncheon today, Congresswoman Nydia Velasquez announced that Speaker Pelosi has tentatively set November 29th for a vote on the Dream Act. Velasquez was honored at the luncheon for her leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute.
Congresswoman Velasquez called for all Americans to contact their Members of Congress to urge passage. The Dream Act legislation would establish a process for undocumented immigrant youth, brought to the U.S before the age of 16, to achieve legal status if they enter the armed forces or attend college for two years, and have clean records. In an increasingly competitive international trade market, growing a better educated work force could have significant long term benefits. Passage of the Dream Act would both begin the process of solving the country’s immigration quandary and improving American competitiveness.