DREAM Act 2010

Today I had a hearing on SB783, the DREAM Act, in front of the Senate Education Committee. The legislation makes certain students eligible for instate college tuition regardless of their immigration status. The bill creates the “Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act,” otherwise known as the Dream Act. The legislation requires any higher education institution in Missouri that receives state funding to provide instate tuition to students who meet the following guidelines:

1) The student lived with his or her parent or guardian while attending high school in Missouri;

2) The student attended school in Missouri for two years and graduated from a Missouri high school or received the equivalent of a high school diploma;

3) The student entered the United States before the DREAM Act was signed into law; and

4) An individual who is not a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident presents a signed affidavit to a higher education institution stating he or she will file an application to become a permanent resident at the earliest opportunity.

The hearing was well attended by immigration advocates and self-described DREAM Activists from across the state. Four organizations provided testimony in favor of the legislation -- no one provided opposition testimony. In addition to the organizations testifying in favor of the bill (MIRA, MNEA, SEIU & Catholic Charities), several students from the KS/MO DREAM Alliance traveled to Jefferson City to support the bill.

Imagine the frustration and heartache of students who work hard to learn and excel in their studies only to find they cannot continue their education after high school because the cost of college is totally unattainable.

I've talked to high school counselors who have a difficult time keeping kids in school and engaged, when the promise of college is not waiting upon graduation. With no work documentation and no money for school, thousands of talented kids fall through the cracks after high school graduation, rather than earning the education they deserve.

The most high-profile example of the issue was highlighted a few years back in a great WIRED article called "La Vida Robot" about 4 high school kids in Arizona who beat MIT in a national robotics championship, but had no hope of attending college after high school graduation. The article is well worth your time.

During the hearing I presented testimony about 10 other states that have similar laws including Kansas, Nebraska and Illinois. A federal version of the bill has also been introduced in Washington, D.C., with bipartisan support in both the Senate and House.

This is the second year I have filed the DREAM Act. We are a nation of immigrants, all of whom came here to pursue the American dream. Why would we make it more difficult for new immigrants to have the same opportunities that our grandparents or great grandparents enjoyed when they came to this country? These children were brought here as kids, through no fault of their own. They have excelled in their schools and are ready to become our next generation of tax-paying scientists, doctors and lawyers.

The next step for the bill is to get enough votes to advance it out of the Education Committee. It is unlikely to do so this year, as the majority of the committee members don't have a strong voting record when it comes to basic rights for immigrants and refugees. Even so, today's hearing was a great opportunity to tell the story of these incredible kids and we will use this as the baseline education year as we try to advance the bill in the future.

End the Ban

Today I introduced a Senate Concurrent Resolution urging the Missouri General Assembly to send a message to Washington, D.C., that it is time to end the outdated military policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

The following is the text from my floor speech. I will post the language of the concurrent resolution as soon as it is available online.

This summer I had the privilege of attending a moving event at the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum honoring the 61st anniversary of President Truman's signing of Executive Order 9981 that ended racial segregation in the armed forces. The program explored the history and lessons learned of racial discrimination in the U.S. military. It also examined gender discrimination and the ban on openly gay service members -- two of the remaining challenges of our 21st century fighting force.

Courageous individuals who have served their country under extraordinary circumstances attended the event. It is both fitting and proper that I briefly share three of their stories with you today.

Oliver Vincent Shields served as an African American during World War II. Shields landed at Normandy Beach during D-Day and was selected as one of the 2500 African-American volunteers to serve in the 14th Armored Division (known as the "Liberators"). He served in a segregated army, but fought as hard and brave as any other member of that Army. Oliver Vincent Shields supports a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Chief Petty Officer Stuart O’Brien of the Royal Australian Army served alongside the U.S. military in Iraq in 2006. Australia is one of 27 countries that allow open service of gay men and women. This summer he told the story of a U.S. service member who received grief counseling and support from the Australian Navy Chaplain when his longtime partner was killed while on active duty. This American could not reach out to his own chaplain, his own country or even his own American friends because to do so would be an admission that he is gay and end his career. Chief Petty Officer Stuart O’Brien supports the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Finally, I want to tell you about Shonda Garrison. Shonda grew up in Branson, Missouri and enrolled in the U.S. Army right out of high school. She worked hard and advanced quickly. In the fall of 1990 she, like tens of thousands of other Americans, shipped out to Saudi Arabia and spent almost a year in the desert fighting for this country. Shonda loves her country and wanted to make a career in the military, but after 8 years of service, she had to make the agonizing decision to leave because she could no longer serve in silence. Shonda is gay and under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, she could not enter a committed relationship with the person she loves for fear of losing her career. Shonda Garrison is my partner and she supports the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Today in Washington, D.C. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee to discuss how we can end this country’s "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" policy. The Senate Concurrent Resolution I am filing today urges the Missouri General Assembly to send a message to the U.S. Congress that it is time to end this unnecessary practice that actually costs American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and undermines our military’s readiness.

I’ll leave you with a quote from Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. "In the 1940s President Truman demonstrated courage and leadership by desegregating the military so that all qualified Americans, regardless of their race, could serve their country with full equality. Today's leaders can take encouragement from the example of President Truman, who, during an election year, put justice and equality under the law before political expediency."

Let’s do the right thing – it’s time to end the ban.