Senate Republican's Vow To Block DREAM Act

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans have announced that they will block consideration of any legislation until votes are held on tax cuts and legislation to fund the government. The following is a statement from Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America's Voice, in response:

"The news that Senate Republicans are banding together to block all legislation unrelated to tax cuts and government funding is shameful. It reveals a sad truth - the Republican caucus would rather obstruct their way to ‘no' for political purposes than do their job and pass legislation that is good for America.

Legislators are hiding from their responsibility. If they only had half the work ethic and belief in America as the DREAM students, our problems would be solved. Americans want action across the board on many things -- and Congress has the time right now, to act on them all, including the DREAM Act. For heaven's sake, do your job and do the right thing."

This week, young DREAMers gathered in Washington to share their stories and call on Congress to let them give back to the nation they love and call home. The idea that their pleas could fall on deaf ears and their dreams could be sacrificed for politically-motivated obstruction is a sad commentary on the Republican Party and its leadership, and one that won't soon be forgotten by Latino voters. Every procedural delay or weak excuse for not moving forward on DREAM highlights that, despite what many Republican Senators claim, their sympathy for DREAM youth does not yet trump a craven willingness to engage in the worst form of politics.

America's Voice -- Harnessing the power of American voices and American values to win common sense immigration reform. The mission of America’s Voice is to realize the promise of workable and humane comprehensive immigration reform. Our goal is to build the public support and create the political momentum for reforms that will transform a dysfunctional immigration system that does not work into a regulatory system that does.