Speech #1090129418

I will introduce legislation to improve disaster relief and preparedness services for individuals with limited English proficiency by requiring the Federal Emergency Management Agency to bolster Federal resources and outreach to community organizations that serve the limitedEnglish population. Mr. Speaker. our Nation was founded by immigrants who valued freedom and liberty. who sought to be free from persecution. from a tyrant government. Families fled their home countries to seek refuge in this great Nation. because they too believed in liberty. justice and freedom for all. APIA families who seek to be reunited with their family members overseas have not seen their dreams come true because of our broken immigration system. Over 1.5 million Asians are caught in the family immigration backlog. and immediate family members from overseas wait as long as 10 years to reunite with their families in the U.S. Mothers and fathers wait to reunite with their children. But due to the long years of waiting. their children may have already reached the age of 18. and their families will have to start the process all over again. As we honor the 41st anniversary of the Immigration Nationality Act of 1965 and the 31st anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1975. we need to remember that our country was founded and created to protect our freedom and civil liberties. I believe we need comprehensive immigration reform to fix our broken immigration system. Mr. Speaker.