(February 27, 2008) Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard meets with representatives of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) to discuss the importance of passing a variety of initiatives impacting the Latino community, including universal health care coverage, the American Dream Act, job protections for immigrant agricultural workers and federal support for LULAC’s educational centers.

The Dream Act (HR 1275), which the congresswoman co-authored along with Congressman Howard Berman (CA-28) and Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (FL-21, R), provides a path to legal immigration status for college-bound children who have lived most of their lives in this country, but do not have legal immigration status. Under the American Dream Act, qualified students would be eligible for temporary legal immigration status upon high school graduation that would lead to permanent legal residency if they go to college or serve in the military.  The American Dream Act would also eliminate a federal provision that discourages states from providing in-state college tuition to immigrant students who have long resided in their states.

In addition to the Dream Act, LULAC discussed the need to support federal funding for its National Educational Service Centers. LULAC’s educational effort serves more than 18,000 students each year by providing educational counseling, scholarships, mentorships, leadership development, and literacy programs through its network of fifteen educational centers. Since 1973, the centers have assisted more than 400,000 students, sent more than 150,000 on to college, and awarded more than $13 million in scholarships to more than 25,000 students.

Pictured in the photo from left to right: Adrian Rodriguez, National Vice President Southwest; Ada Pena, LULAC Washington DC State Director; Angel Luevano, National V.P. for Far West; Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34); Manuel Rendon, Immediate Past Texas LULAC Youth St. Director; Emma Moreno, Director of Federal  Relations; Elia Mendoza, LULAC Advisor to the President; Sal Alvarez, LULAC Health Commission Chair.