The Assembly pass the New York State Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act (A.4311), which he co-sponsored. The legislation would allow children of immigrants to apply for state scholarships and the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) to help with the cost of higher education, as well as establish a private scholarship fund (the DREAM Fund).
New York State has been at the forefront of giving students a fair shot at attending college. Since 2002, all students who graduate from a high school in New York State – including undocumented immigrants – are eligible for in-state tuition at SUNY and CUNY colleges and universities. The DREAM Act would further assist these youth by increasing access to state educational assistance programs, including the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP); Educational Opportunity Program (EOP); Collegiate Science and Technology Program
(C-STEP); and opportunity programs available at community colleges.
To be eligible for state tuition assistance and educational opportunity programs, undocumented immigrant students must satisfy certain requirements, including attending high school in New York State for at least two years and having graduated or received a high school equivalency diploma in-state.
The DREAM Act also creates the DREAM Fund, an initiative to raise private funds for scholarships that would assist college-bound students with at least one immigrant parent. The legislation would also expand access to the New York State College Tuition Savings (529) Program, making family tuition accounts available to anyone who provides a valid taxpayer identification number. This would help many families save for their children’s education over time.
Passage of the DREAM Act into law would make New York one of six states – including California, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas and Washington – to offer state financial aid to undocumented students and children of undocumented immigrants. At least 18 states allow immigrant students to pay in-state tuition at state universities and college.
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said, “Every student should have access to an affordable higher education, regardless of his or her immigration status. The DREAM Act allows hardworking immigrant students to apply for the same funding for higher education that all other students in New York currently have access to.”
“Students who have worked hard to meet admission standards should not be at a disadvantage because of where they came from,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “Diversity is a big part of what makes New York so great – nearly all of us are the children or descendants of immigrants. This legislation would help deserving students invest in their own education and pursue their version of the American Dream.”
All or Nothing
By Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.
By Senator Ruben Diaz Sr.
"After hearing that Governor Andrew Cuomo has invited Senator Jeff Klein, (the Leader of 5 Independent Senate Democrats) to become #4 in the 3-Men-In-The-Room for New York State Budget negotiations - and that Governor Andrew Cuomo has ignored Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Leader of the 25 Member Senate Democratic Conference - I am calling on my Democratic colleagues in the Senate to boycott the Budget vote.
It is a shame and an insult to every Democrat in the state, especially to each of us 25 Democratic Senators. It is an insult to Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who is the first woman to hold the position of a Senate Conference Leader. It is an insult to the mostly Black and Hispanic constituents she and I - and many of my fellow Democratic Senators represent.
I have no opposition to Senator Jeff Klein being a part of the Budget negotiations to represent the interests of his 5 Independent Democratic Members. However, to ignore Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Leader of the Senate Democratic Conference and by that the 25 Democratic Senators, is to leave us without a voice. This effects millions of people.
It is appalling! I ask that once and for all, for my fellow Senate Democrats to stand on their own feet, to stop this abuse and farce, and to boycott the Budget vote. Don't vote for the Budget. They already have the votes to pass the budget without us, and we should stop being part of the farce.
This insult to Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins affects us all. Racism and sexism have no place in our government, and I implore my colleagues to have no part in this vote.
This is Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz, and this is what you should know.
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