LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION urging the New York State Congressional deleg-
ation to enact the federal DREAM Act

WHEREAS, The federal DREAM Act (Development, Relief, and Education for
Alien Minors Act) is a bipartisan legislation that would permit certain
students conditional legal stay and eventual citizenship granted that
they meet all of the following requirements: if they were brought to the
United States before they turned 16, are below the age of 35; have lived
here continuously for five years; graduated from a U.S. high school or
obtained a GED; have a good moral character with no criminal record; and
attend college or enlist in the military; and
WHEREAS, The DREAM Act is a legislative proposal first introduced in
the Senate on August 1, 2001, and most recently reintroduced there on
May 11, 2011; and
WHEREAS, In a December 2010 report, the Congressional Budget Office
and the Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the DREAM Act would
reduce deficits by about $1.4 billion over the 2011-2020 period and
increase government revenues by $2.3 billion over the next 10 years; and
WHEREAS, A recent UCLA study estimates that between $1.4 trillion and
$3.6 trillion in taxable income would be generated for the economy over
a 40 year period based upon estimates ranging between $825,000 and $2.1
million, potential DREAM Act beneficiaries successfully obtaining resi-
dent status through the legislation; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants come to the United States of America with a strong
work ethic and the hope of improving their quality of life, as well as
assuring their families' future; and
WHEREAS, This strong work ethic benefits the communities they live in
and our nation as a whole by successfully fulfilling employment posi-
tions which are often difficult to fill; and
WHEREAS, The United States has prided itself on being a melting pot
for the many cultures that make up our global community; America has
always embraced the multitude of cultural gifts and traditions immi-
grants have brought with them to our beloved nation; and
WHEREAS, We are a nation that welcomes the freedoms and opportunities
which the Statue of Liberty represents; and
WHEREAS, In this ever expanding globalized economy, we must do all we
can to cultivate the intellectual capital residing in our nation by
providing our youth with financial assistance towards a higher education
and the opportunity to fulfill the American Dream; and
WHEREAS, By enacting the DREAM Act, this legislation would liberate
immigrants from the fear of deportation to their former countries;
furthermore, it will provide them with a process by which they could
become United States citizens; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the New York State Congressional delegation be and
hereby is respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to enact
the federal DREAM Act; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to each member of the Congressional delegation from the State of
New York.