Latino Group Announces 'Most Wanted" List
WASHINGTON – The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) hosted a news conference at the National Press Club to call out Democratic and Republican senators who have indicated they are undecided on passage of the DREAM Act. These senators are of particular interest to NHLA because of their positive voting record for the DREAM Act as well as the large Hispanic populations in their states. On principle and in the interest of their significant Hispanic constituency, NHLA expects these senators to stand with the students and for America’s future. The Senate is scheduled to take action on the bill as early as this week, after a bipartisan majority in the House passed their version of the legislation last week. The DREAM Act, under strict and arduous requirements, would offer a path to citizenship to immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and have served in the military or excelled academically. Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) first introduced the historically bipartisan bill in 2001.
The following senators were urged to support the DREAM Act:
Kay Hagan (D-NC), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Scott Brown (R-MA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), George LeMieux (R-FL), Richard Lugar (R-IN), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), and George Voinovich (R-OH)
“In the next few days we will find out if these ten senators are DREAM-Makers or DREAM-Busters,” said NHLA chair Lillian Rodríguez-López. “Each of them has either voted for the DREAM Act in the past, supported comprehensive immigration reform, or represents large populations of Hispanics. And each of them has the power to make thousands of dreams come true before this Congress adjourns.”
Established in 1991, The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda (NHLA) brings together Hispanic leaders to establish policy priorities that address, and raise public awareness of the major issues affecting the Latino community and the nation as a whole.
