State Rep. Ryu says she’s proud that Dream Act passed House on first day of legislative session

Rep. Cindy Ryu D-32

By Evan Smith

  

State Rep. Cindy Ryu noted in her first newsletter of the 2014 legislative session that the House of Representatives had broken its tradition of reserving the first day of its session for ceremony by passing the Dream Act. She noted that the House passed the act on a bipartisan 71-23 vote. The Dream Act will open state financial-aid to children of undocumented immigrants.

  

“This is not an inconsequential ‘feel good bill,’” Ryu said in a recent letter to constituents. “In fact, it is a great big bill. The Dream Act will help open the doors of our universities to all students – even those who may have undocumented status because they were brought to this country when they were young by their undocumented parents or were born at home and their births not recorded. 

The State Senate later passed a different version of the act, requiring the two chambers to reconcile their differences.

  

“Rep. Ruth Kagi and I recently met with a group of students from the Latino Educational Achievement Project, Ryu said in January. “These students, and many others I have met, have graduated from our high schools, received high grades and high test scores. They worked hard to earn their way into our colleges and universities. But due to their status, they do not have the same opportunities as their high school friends. And yet, the United States is the only home they know.

  

“These students, each and every one of them, will tell you that they too dream of a college education and giving back to their community and country by becoming productive adults,” Ryu said. “I proudly voted for a bill that will help them achieve their goal. It will allow all students to become eligible for the State Need Grant (SNG). It is the right thing to do for these students, the right thing to do for our economy and the right thing to do for our country.

  

“We are a nation of immigrants. I, as an immigrant and currently the only immigrant in the Washington State Legislature, strongly support the belief that every child in Washington State, regardless of race, religion or circumstance, should have a great education and a fair shot at the American Dream.

  

A similar bill passed the State Senate at the end of January. The two chambers must now reconcile their differences. 

Ryu and Kagi are Democrats representing the 32nd Legislative District, including Shoreline, part of northwest Seattle, Lynnwood, part of Mountlake Terrace, south Edmonds, Woodway and unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County near Edmonds and Woodway.

  

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.