Congressman Charles Rangel, local elected leaders and community activists will hold a conference Monday, December 13 at Gregorio Luperon High School (501 West 165th Street, corner of Amsterdam venue) to discuss the wide support for the DREAM ACT and the call on the Senate to take up the measure before Congress breaks for the holidays.

“The House did the right thing by bringing this issue to a vote and so should the Senate,” said Rangel. “The faster these hard working students are given the opportunity to become professionals, enter the workforce and pay taxes, the stronger this nation will be now and in the future.”

Also expected to attend are New York Assembly Member-elect Guillermo Linares, New York Senator-elect Adriano Espaillat, City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez and representatives from Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights, New York Immigration Coalition and Make the Road by Walking.

“At a time when this country is desperately recruiting scientists, researchers and teachers, we find people that were raised in the United States and for all practical purposes are Americans, being denied an opportunity to help our nation maintain its greatness,” added Rangel. “We have already invested in their high school education and now they want to pay us back by becoming professionals. Now is the time not to retreat, but to move forward and support the DREAM ACT.”