Sacramento - In this Democratic weekly address, Assemblymember Marty Block (D-San Diego) highlights the passage of the California Dream Act, the new law that allows California students to be eligible for state financial assistance to attend California colleges and universities. Governor Brown signed the bill on Saturday, October 8th, after it passed both houses of the Legislature with strong support from Democrats. "This is a wonderful day for California," said Block. "By signing the Dream Act into law, Governor Brown has ensured that every Californian will have the opportunity to go to the best universities in the world and help contribute to California's recovery."
Click on the following link for the English language MP3 file. The running time is: 2:19. http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/Newsline/Audio/20111014RadioAddressEnglishDreamActBlock.mp3
Transcript:
Hi, this is Assemblymember Marty Block.
The California Dream Act is the right thing to do for California's 21st century economy.
It is needed to ensure that the most qualified, highly trained and educated people graduate from the state's institutions of higher learning.
These are the kinds of Californians we want to remain Californians.
This is a relatively moderate and modest measure at its heart. We're simply recognizing that the children of undocumented immigrants had no say in their immigration status and should not be penalized by higher tuition and an inability to obtain financial assistance to achieve their educational goals.
This ongoing recession is like a disease, and it's going to take the best minds to keep fighting it. By allowing the brightest students, regardless of the immigration status of their parents, the ability to attend and excel at our public universities we give these scholars the tools they need to eventually get California's economy moving again.
The California Dream Act is also an issue of fairness. Immigration status is not a black-and-white issue—a student may well resolve this question in the middle or shortly after their college career. Without the Dream Act, they would not have the education and training to enter the workforce at the same high level. And California would lose an obviously talented and intelligent new graduate.
Education leads to higher paying jobs. Higher paying jobs stimulate the economy, and will help us get out of this recession at a faster rate. The California Dream Act is needed to accelerate the economy in the years to come.
Further, rather than viewing these students as a drain on the state's resources, the Dream Act instead challenges these students to give back and contribute to the public good by getting an education and becoming a productive member of society.
The Dream Act is a bridge to California's future. It is a good first step toward giving our undocumented youth the tools needed to succeed in a 21st century economy.
It is also an ethical solution to a difficult problem—a solution that will ultimately benefit the entire state by providing highly educated, competent people ready to solve the most pressing challenges of the day.
This is Assemblymember Marty Block. Thank you for listening.
Contact: Courtney Miller (916) 319-2078
