REP. GIANNAROS: (21st)
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise in favor of the Amendment. If I may, just for clarification purposes, emphasize the fact that the children in question, and we're talking about our children and not adults. They don't have the legal right as of this moment to apply for permanent residency, unlike what was implied before.
And they have not been waiting because they desire to avoid becoming permanent residents. The current law does not allow for that. Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize that we're talking about the children of people who may have violated the U. S. law or perhaps never renewed their visa when they entered legally.
And the children involved. And again, it's our children that we're talking about. And they have never even known that mom or dad crossed the border or entered the JFK Airport without the proper legal documentation or perhaps never renewed their visa. We're talking about only 200 approximately. Of course, this is an estimate.
But to put things in perspective, and I understand. This is a tough issue for some people. We're talking about 200. That's two-tenths of one percent of the total student population of Connecticut. I just did some additions and I think they are approximately correct.
We have 109,000 students currently at state universities, UConn campuses and community colleges. Out of 109,000 students that we have, the maximum that could possibly be added to that number is 200 based on our estimate.
That's two-tenths of one percent. To give our young people the opportunity to make a contribution to this United States of America and to the State of Connecticut.
They are going to stay here. There's no one that I've heard from political circles that demands that all 12 million undocumented be suddenly brought together and sent back home.
They're going to be here. Why not give them the opportunity to maximize their learning and education and be able to provide for us the best they can in making a contribution to our economy.
How do you know that you don't have within that 200 per year, you don't have an Einstein? How do you know that?
And perhaps cutting off somebody, we can make that breakthrough in solving cancer, in solving Alzheimer's and whatever. Alzheimer's in the future. We're talking about our children who had nothing to do with violating the law.
It was somebody else. Why penalize them? Why? What is the reason other than this concept of the fact that mom or dad may have illegally entered the U. S. ? Today, and I'm looking at MSNBC if anybody wants to bring it up, the headline is as follows, Senators strike deal on immigration reform bill.
Compromise deal will legalize millions of illegal immigrants. And, with your permission, Mr. Speaker, I'll read two or three paragraphs from it, if it's okay, if there's no objection, because it's relevant to the questions that we're asked. That's the only reason that I would want to do that.
DEPUTY SPEAKER GODFREY:
It's okay.
REP. GIANNAROS: (21st)
It says key Senators in both parties and the White House announce agreement Thursday on an immigration overhaul that would grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U. S. and fortify the border.
The plan would create a temporary worker program to bring new arrivals to the U. S. and a separate program to cover agricultural workers.
But listen to the next statement. Skills and education level would for the first time be weighted over family connections in deciding whether future immigrants should get permanent legal status, skills and education.
And that's what this particular Bill does. It will provide the opportunity for these kids to get the maximum possible education they can get given their abilities.
And it goes on to say that President Bush called it a much-needed solution to the problem of illegal immigration in this country.
And he said, if approved, the proposal delivers an immigration system that is secure, productive, orderly and fair. Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania said it's not amnesty. This will restore the rule of law.
And what we're doing with this Bill, basically, we will expedite things so the kids we're talking about will qualify because they'll have the skills and education to actually apply for this permanent residency that the new agreement seems to have been made today in Washington, D. C.
The key breakthrough came when negotiations struck a bargain on the so-called point system that prioritizes immigrant's education and skills over family connections.
The emphasis is there. I know it is a tough issue, but we have to be pragmatic. We have to be pragmatic. The U. S. , whether we like it or not, is going to have even more immigrants when the 75 million of us retire in the so-called baby boom generation, otherwise our taxes would be double what they are today and anybody can challenge me on that number.
It would be double. We need every single human being in this economy to fill it in from the backside, all the positions that are going vacant.
There are many positions right now that are not being filled as we speak in many professions because we don't have enough workers, as the manufacturers. Ask the high-skilled scientific areas and you see what answer you're going to get.
And what we need to do basically is encourage every young person, whether it's legal or illegal in this case, to go to college. Go to trade school. Whatever it takes, get that education and training that they need to help themselves, but more importantly, to help the rest of us.
Who's going to support us, the 75 million people who are retiring if you don't have the kind of labor force that we are going to need.
Highly educated, highly trained. Especially in the State of Connecticut. The State of Connecticut cannot survive, no matter what anybody thinks, unless our workers are highly qualified. That is the kind of workforce that makes the economy go in Connecticut. Just look at the numbers. Look at the numbers.
There is no real future in the economy unless we keep pushing for higher training and education. We are the brain of the world in some respects, in Connecticut. And that's why these kids have to be given that opportunity.
We are one of the highest states, and perhaps countries, in the world that provide licenses or sell licenses of innovations.
And create billions of dollars of income for us. We need these kids to be educated. Not to be hanging around corners because they were not given the opportunity to study at a college or university and we know what happens when kids hang around corners instead of being in class. It results in more social damage than good.
I understand again the issue of legality and I understand why some people have reservations. But we have to be pragmatic. We have to be pragmatic.
I just listened to an NBC, I think it was CNBC report the other night. And I was astonished to find out that a Hungarian immigrant is the guy who actually owns most of the airplanes that the American airlines fly, because they rent them from him.
This is a guy who came to New York, and it didn't say whether he was legal or illegal in this story, but he came to New York, established himself and he is a multi-billionaire and he is the largest airplane owner in the world. He rents, leases airplanes. Don't you think that you could have another one like that?
Perhaps in this 200 per year? Why stop them? Why stop them from having access to education? What is it that we're going to gain?
Especially when there is such discussion and debate in Washington, D. C. , to finally legalize the undocumented residents who are, by the way, by and large, paying taxes, Social Security and most of that Social Security they will never get the benefits of because of the way they recorded their name on Social Security numbers.
I believe it's $ 1 trillion worth of Social Security funds that have been paid by illegal immigrants that they will never get because of the problem with legality.
When people talk about welfare and other kind of expenses, well, you factor that in and you see that it is a major contribution to people like me who will retire on their back.
Mr. Speaker, I will not take anymore of our time here, but I think that we should think carefully. We're talking about children. Not the mothers or fathers who may have violated the law by crossing the border and these children should be given the maximum opportunity for education. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.