Statement by Congresswoman-Elect Karen Bass on Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, Senate Vote on DREAM Act

Statement by Congresswoman-Elect Karen Bass on Repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell, Senate Vote on DREAM Act

Karen Bass: "We have witnessed today the hope of equality and the failure of opportunity in the senate.  We have moved one step closer to creating a more perfect American union, and at the same time, we have taken one step back at living up to the high ideals our great nation was founded upon.  The march of progress must continue without stop."

Los Angeles, CA -- Congresswoman-elect Karen Bass released the following statement following today's senate activity to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell and failure to pass the DREAM Act, legislation aimed at establishing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.  The statement follows:

"We have witnessed today the hope of equality and the failure of opportunity in the senate. We have moved one step closer to creating a more perfect American union, and at the same time, we have taken one step back at living up to the high ideals our great nation was founded upon. The march of progress must continue without stop.  By doing away with Don't Ask Don't Tell, inequality will have no place in one of our nation's most revered institutions.  Defending this nation in our all volunteer military should be an honor for all Americans, not some.

"But the dreams of many students in our communities were put on hold today when the senate failed our next generation of future leaders.  Our immigration system is broken, and a handful of Republican senators today refused to make any repairs. Passage of the DREAM Act sends a clear, unequivocal message to all communities that this nation founded by immigrants is made greater by our diversity. To our students educating themselves to support a family and strengthen a nation, and to our service members defending our freedoms by wearing a uniform, we will never give up the fight of making the DREAM Act a reality." 

Congresswoman-elect Karen Bass will represent the 33rd Congressional District of California. In 2008, Bass was sworn in as the 67th Speaker of the California Assembly - the first African American woman to serve as Speaker of any state Assembly and the first Democratic woman to hold this prestigious role in California.

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