National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016

Floor Speech

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Mr. AGUILAR. I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chairman, 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.

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.

I urge opposition to the Brooks amendment.

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