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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The United States is a nation of immigrants who have |
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built the greatest democracy in the history of mankind; and |
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WHEREAS, The United States at many times during its history |
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has allowed noncitizens to earn citizenship through honorable |
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service in its armed forces; and |
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WHEREAS, Thousands of undocumented children have received a |
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high school degree in Texas and are eager to serve in the United |
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States armed forces, but are ineligible because they were brought |
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to the United States illegally; and |
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WHEREAS, Approximately 40,000 noncitizens with visas or |
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green cards are currently serving loyally in the United States |
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armed forces; and |
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WHEREAS, Many noncitizens serving in the United States armed |
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forces have given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan during the |
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last 10 years; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the federal government to grant a |
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conditional green card to noncitizens who (1) have received a high |
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school diploma in the United States, and (2) arrived in this country |
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before the age of 16, to allow them to enlist in the United States |
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armed forces, if otherwise qualified; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature urge the federal |
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government to award citizenship to these patriotic immigrants upon |
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the completion of four years of honorable service in the United |
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States armed forces; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, to the secretary of |
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defense, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress |
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with the request that this resolution be entered in the |
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Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United |
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States of America. |