Today, Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31) took to the House floor to stand up for DREAMers – children who were brought to the United States as children.  He defended DREAMers as patriotic young adults and advocated for the right for them to serve in the military. Rep. Aguilar spoke against Rep. Mo Brooks’ (R-AL) amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the legislation that sets the country’s defense priorities. The amendment would repeal language in the bill that supported allowing DREAMers to enlist and serve in the United States military.

“Our men and women who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe and free deserve the utmost respect and admiration. They are tasked with a responsibility far greater than the rest of us. It takes bravery and honor to put their lives on the line every day to protect our nation and to promote our ideals of liberty and freedom. I believe we can all agree on this.  What I cannot believe or understand is that some of my Republican colleagues think that it is fair to punish those who want to take on this courageous responsibility simply because they have not yet been granted full citizenship,” said Rep. Aguilar

He continued, “My colleague from Arizona’s amendment passed out of committee and merely recognizes the willingness of DREAMers – young people brought to this country as children – to serve in the military for the country they love. For most, this is the only country they have ever known. We shouldn’t allow our broken immigration system to stand in the way of their distinguished military service.”

Representative Aguilar serves on the House Armed Services Committee and he sits on the Subcommittees on Strategic Forces and Emerging Threats and Capabilities. His remarks can be viewed here.