Ohio Would Benefit From the DREAM Act

Ohio would benefit from DREAM Act

Tuesday, September 21, 2010 02:52 AM

This week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., indicated his intent to bring the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, or DREAM, to a vote on the Senate floor. Ohio Sens. George V. Voinovich and Sherrod Brown must seize the opportunity to vote for this bipartisan legislation. The DREAM Act is a bill that would enable Ohio to become more prosperous by increasing access to education.

By providing young people who currently attend college or serve in the armed forces with a path toward citizenship, we won’t just help immigrant communities but also will help affirm an American credo that, from California to the New York island, this land is still the land of opportunity and liberty.

Those affected by this legislation are as American as you or me. Many of the young men and women who would be affected by the DREAM Act are people we call our neighbors. They have grown up as Americans and do not know any other home.

The bill is designed to amend the status of only those who have worked hard, stayed out of trouble and contribute to our communities and economy. Right now, brilliant scholars and America’s next engineers, inventors, teachers and farmers are unable to obtain a Social Security number, and that is keeping them from completely contributing to our great state.

People who hear these stories about immigrants may wonder why these so-called dreamers don’t just get in line and wait in line, as many of our ancestors did at Ellis Island. The truth is that without passage of this important legislation, there is no viable way for these bright young people to fix their situation.

Putting partisan politics aside and allowing our youths to pursue higher education and enter our work force is the right thing to do. It is time to support the DREAM Act.

JEREMY A. VanMETER

Governing board member

Fairfield County Educational Service Center

Sugar Grove

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