The New York State DREAM Act: Stuck in Political Limbo 

in Albany

CONTENTS

* "Keeping the DREAM Alive" By Jeff Klein & Francisco Moya, City & State (January 27, 2014)

* "A Democratic Gimmick on the 'Dream Act': Do Nothing and Blame the Republicans" By Senator Rev. Rub�n D�az (January 27. 2014)

Keeping the DREAM Alive

By Jeff Klein & Francisco Moya

City & State (January 27, 2014)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo concluded his State of the State Address by trumpeting the importance of New York's immigrant community. "That is the Statue of Liberty in the harbor," he said. "Come one, come all, we don't care [about] the color of your skin or your religion or how much money you have in your pocket; you come to New York and we will welcome you and work with you and invite you into the family of New York."

This year lawmakers have an opportunity to make good on this promise by passing the New York State DREAM Act.

New York State currently denies undocumented students access to our state's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), even if these students have long resided in New York, have graduated with top GPAs and otherwise qualify for financial assistance. By passing the DREAM Act, New York would finally end this discrimination and afford all qualified students the tuition assistance they need and deserve.

The Assembly's Democratic majority has already passed the DREAM Act. In the Senate, the Independent Democratic Conference has recently given the measure its full backing, leaving the DREAM Act just eight votes shy of the support it needs to pass the chamber. In order to pass the DREAM Act, we need eight senators to step forward and declare their support.

Without action, crucial financial aid will remain off-limits to far too many, preventing thousands from pursuing higher education at all.

Nationwide, people are beginning to fully understand the impact of keeping nearly 2 million young people in the shadows. For an undocumented youth, no financial aid can mean no college education, which means no job and potentially no future. Society as a whole is imperiled when an entire population of undocumented youth-who are likely to remain in the U.S.-has no tangible path to the American Dream.

We may be closer than ever to seeing comprehensive federal immigration reform, but Washington has proven to be unreliable as of late. With hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants waiting for progress, New York cannot delay, hoping that Washington will make the first move.

New York, once a leader in immigrant rights, has fallen behind. Other states with significant immigrant populations have recognized the very real challenges facing undocumented students and have devised real solutions for overcoming them. In 2011 California passed legislation making state tuition funding available to eligible DREAMers. That same year Illinois created a DREAM Fund, which collects private donations for college scholarships for DREAMers. New York now has an opportunity to act.

State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli issued a report last year touting the DREAM Act's vast economic benefits, echoing what advocates have been arguing for years. The report also detailed the legislation's low price tag, even if additional funds are added to account for an expanded pool of TAP recipients.

It is time for New York to lead. We must not only catch up to states like California but illuminate the way forward for the nation. Cuomo spoke of opening New York's arms to those from distant shores. But in order for thousands of immigrants' dreams to be more than just a faint hope, we need to do our part to bring them out of the shadows and finally pass the New York State DREAM Act.

State Sen. Jeff Klein is co-leader of the Senate majority coalition and leader of the Independent Democratic Conference. Assemblyman Francisco Moya is a sponsor of the DREAM Act.

What You Should Know

A Democratic Gimmick on the "Dream Act": Do Nothing and Blame the Republicans

By Senator Rev. Rub�n D�az (January 27. 2014)

You should know that here in Albany, the Capital of the State of New York, where laws for the state are debated and approved, you will find some elected officials who are doing nothing to protect our poor and needy communities and instead blame the Republicans for their inaction and lack of courage to stand for what they promised their constituents during election time.

You should know that in the Democratic Party in the Capital of the State of New York, we have a Democratic Governor, a Democratic Attorney General, a Democratic Comptroller, a Democratic Assembly, and we Democrats have thirty-three (33) out of 63 in the New York State Senate. Therefore, we have enough control and votes to approve anything we want including the allocation of 25 million dollars ($25,000,000) for the "Dream Act" within the 140 billion dollars that the Governor is proposing in the New York State Budget.

Then you might ask, why is that for the past three years we have not done it? Because there are some members of the Legislature that say one thing back in the City and to the Hispanic media and then say and do something quite different when they return to Albany, or when the Governor calls them.

I was surprised and amazed, to read an article in the New York Daily News, written by Mr. Kenneth Lovett titled: "Decision time." This article was published on Monday, January 27, 2014 and it detailed how "a top democrat has expressed political concerns about the push to pass a bill to create a State Dream Act authorizing State financial assistance to college kids." Mr. Lovett continues stating that "Several Legislative Democrats and Dream Act advocates said Senator Michael Gianaris...fears the issue could harm Democratic chances to get re-elected."

There are also rumors that Governor Cuomo called Assembly members Felix Ortiz, Francisco Moya and others to his office and some of them joined the Governor by stating that "maybe it will be better for us to wait a little bit because the Republicans will not allow the vote to come to the floor."

You should know that the Republicans never wanted to bring the gay marriage vote to the floor, it was because of Governor Cuomo and the Democrats' pressure that forced the hands of the Republicans against their will and as you know gay marriage was voted and approved in New York State.

You should also know that the Republicans never wanted to bring to the floor "The SAFE Act" legislation but the Governor and the Democrats one more time forced their hands and the SAFE Act was approved in New York State.

By writing this column, it is my intention to let you know that when we Democrats really want to do something, we do not need the Republicans because we have the votes, the unions, the Assembly, the press and the majority of Senators in the Senate.

It is my intention to let you, my dear readers. know that there is no reason why our community has to be waiting for three years to include 25 million dollars in New York State's budget and create the "Dream Act." We don't have to blame the Republicans, we just have to be honest with our immigrant community and tell them if we really want it or not.

The Governor and my colleagues should put the same efforts, energy and desire that they put into passing gay marriage and the SAFE Act and once and for all stop the gimmick of blaming the Republicans and admit their lack of action.

I am State Senator Rev. Rub�n D�az and this is what you should know.

NYS Seantor Rev. Rub�n D�az represents District 32 Bronx County, New York and can be reached at 718-991-3161 or [email protected].