Urge Senate to help Students Pursue Higher Education - Dream Act

I would like to encourage all of you to urge your congress members to pass the Dream Act. The email I sent is below, you can go to  http://capwiz.com/nea/home/ and send your own letter.

Senator Chambliss:

Each year, we let some 50,000 high school graduates - many at the top of their academic class - look ahead to a future of unrealized potential at a significant cost to our economy and our country. These 50,000 students who were brought into this country as minor children without proper immigration standing are ineligible for in-state college tuition. These students have been productive and active members of their community. However, most cannot even attend community college because federal law effectively prohibits them from paying in-state tuition for college. The DREAM Act is bipartisan legislation that gives eligible young people who were brought to the U.S. as children the opportunity to resolve their immigration status and work towards citizenship. Those eligible will have to pass background checks and be of good moral character, graduate from high school, and go on to complete additional requirements related to attending college or completing military service. The DREAM Act is a great return on money we have already invested and will prepare the country for the global economy. The students who would benefit under the DREAM Act have been raised and educated in the U.S. State and local taxpayers have already invested in the education of these children in elementary and secondary school. Taxpayers deserve a return on their investment. Leading businesses such as Microsoft have endorsed the DREAM Act because they recognize that our broken immigration system is draining our economy of the talent and resources needed to compete in the global economy. I urge you to support immediate passage of the DREAM Act.

Sincerely,