Yesterday, Senator Olympia Snowe put a statement on her website suggesting that consideration of some of the amendments to the defense authorization bill (S. 3454, the National Defense Authorization Act or NDAA) isn’t timely. Given Snowe’s statement, it seems that now is the time to urge both of our key Senators to support these important measures - including the DREAM Act. .
You can read the statement here.
A vote on cloture to end debate and allow the U.S. Senate to consider amendments, including the DREAM Act is currently scheduled for Tuesday, September 21, at 2:15pm ET. Considering this timeframe - this is an urgent call to action.
The DREAM Act stands for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (S. 729). Among other things, the bill will clarify that states have the option to offer in-state tuition for undocumented students who have attended and graduated from high schools in their states. This issue is the subject of litigation in several states around the country that have enacted their own in-state tuition laws. The ACLU is defending these laws in the courts from legal challenge. The DREAM Act does not require states to provide in-state tuition.
You can read the statement here.
A vote on cloture to end debate and allow the U.S. Senate to consider amendments, including the DREAM Act is currently scheduled for Tuesday, September 21, at 2:15pm ET. Considering this timeframe - this is an urgent call to action.
The DREAM Act stands for the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (S. 729). Among other things, the bill will clarify that states have the option to offer in-state tuition for undocumented students who have attended and graduated from high schools in their states. This issue is the subject of litigation in several states around the country that have enacted their own in-state tuition laws. The ACLU is defending these laws in the courts from legal challenge. The DREAM Act does not require states to provide in-state tuition.
Please make a call to both Senators Snowe (202.224.5344) and Collins (202.224.2523) today and encourage them to support the DREAM Act in a vote scheduled for 2:15pm.
Tell Them:
- We support the passage of the DREAM Act.
- Senator, I’m asking you to support the DREAM Act when it comes up for a vote as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, S. 3454.
- This bill is critical to promoting fundamental fairness in access to public higher education for talented, high achieving young people who are able to gain admission to our public colleges and universities, regardless of their immigration status.
- Denying these students access to affordable college education is short-sighted because they are likely to remain in the United States and may well regularize their immigration status under current or future federal laws.
- Reducing the cost of education at public colleges and universities for high school graduates promotes economic growth and increases opportunities. College graduates who are likely to remain in the state earn higher wages, and therefore generate significantly more in income, sales, and property taxes. Their increased earning power and disposable income stimulate growth in the economy. A better educated population also increases competitiveness in the global economy.
- Denying higher education access to the undocumented students means failing to capitalize on the government’s investment in their K-12 education. Many of the undocumented students already educated in the K-12 public school system come from impoverished backgrounds and would not otherwisebe able to attend college or university without in-state tuition.
ACLU Letter of Support for DREAM Act: