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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, the United States of America |
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has been a nation of immigrants, and throughout its history, |
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immigrants have played vital roles in all fields of endeavor, |
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including education, health, commerce, defense, science, culture, |
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and the arts; and |
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WHEREAS, Our country has long supported the assimilation of |
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newcomers, but the current immigration system has grown complex and |
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dysfunctional; today, an estimated 2.1 million undocumented youth |
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reside in the United States, having entered the country as |
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children; they recognize no other home, but their status deprives |
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them of the opportunity to pursue an education or to otherwise |
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contribute to American society; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2001, the Development, Relief, and Education for |
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Alien Minors Act, better known as the DREAM Act, was introduced in |
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the U.S. Congress to create a viable pathway to citizenship for |
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certain individuals who grew up in the United States; this |
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bipartisan legislation would require individuals who arrived in |
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this country as undocumented minors to satisfy certain conditions, |
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among them graduating from high school or earning a GED and |
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attending college or serving in our country's armed forces; in |
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addition, successful candidates for citizenship would have to |
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demonstrate good moral character and pay appropriate fees; and |
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WHEREAS, Through its provisions, the DREAM Act would foster |
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higher levels of education in the workforce, greatly benefiting a |
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broad range of employers, including business, health care, |
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government, and the military; many young immigrants are also fluent |
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in two or more languages, and these linguistic skills are extremely |
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valuable in an increasingly globalized economy; according to some |
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estimates, passage of the DREAM Act could boost the American |
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economy anywhere from $1.4 trillion to $3.6 trillion in income over |
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a 40-year period; and |
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WHEREAS, Americans from across the political spectrum have |
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endorsed the DREAM Act, which would yield significant societal and |
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economic benefits while promoting fundamental principles of |
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fairness; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby urge the United States Congress to pass the |
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DREAM Act; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the chief clerk forward official copies of |
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this resolution to the president of the United States, to the |
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president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the |
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members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that |
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this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record |
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as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |