Donald M. Payne

This is my country! Land of my birth!

This is my country! Grandest on Earth!

I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold,

For this is my country to have and to hold.

This is my country! Land of my choice!

This is my country! Hear my proud voice!

I pledge thee my allegiance, America, the bold,

For this is my country to have and to hold.

As a youngster in elementary school, I sang this song proudly many times. And nearly a decade ago, 9/11 responders embodied the American spirit proclaimed in this song when they dropped everything to help this country. These Americans paid the ultimate sacrifice and risked their health and lives when our country was attacked. Unfortunately, many have developed health issues as a result of their service.

But my Republican colleagues believe that this treatment is too costly. The 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would provide monitoring and specialized treatment for those responders who were exposed to toxins during 9/11 and this bill is completely paid for. No responders questioned whether they should go in.

Those American flag-wearing lapel Senators should vote for the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Madam Speaker, I, along with many of my Democratic colleagues, continue to fight for economic priorities for middle class Americans and for provisions that will create jobs and grow the economy. However, the tax proposal announced by the President calls for sharp differences in the policies and priorities of the Democratic and Republican parties.

For instance, the Democrats continue to fight to maintain tax cuts on incomes up to $250,000 per couple and $200,000 per individual, while Republicans continue to demand tax cuts for all incomes, including millionaires and billionaires.

The Democrats also strongly support the extension of unemployment benefits to help out-of-work Americans make it through the recession, while the Republicans are willing to hold the middle class and the unemployed hostage to benefit the wealthy.

The Democrats are championing the needs of low-income families by fighting to extend the child tax credit and the earned income tax credit. In addition, we are fighting to continue the college tuition tax credit to help students or working class families afford college.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support a tax cut proposal that will benefit our working class families and grow the economy.

Mr. Speaker, the DREAM Act would not only benefit undocumented students, but it would benefit the country as well. It is estimated that about 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school after living in the United States for at least 5 years. Unfortunately, because of current law, only five to 10 percent of these students attend college. The remaining 90 to 95 percent remain unable to find employment appropriate to their level of academic potential, and become victims of the criminal justice and social welfare system.

Earlier this year, my home State of New Jersey passed a State version of this law recognizing that these students deserve to be rewarded for their hard work and allowed opportunity just as their peers. Furthermore, acknowledging the fact that more than 40 percent of the State's scientists and engineers with advanced degrees were foreign born in 2006, the economic benefit was taken into account. It was understood that, beyond this measure being morally just, it is an economic measure as well.

I ask that we support the DREAM Act.