Reaction To DREAM Act Failure In Senate
WASHINGTON -Legislation that would provide a path to citizenship for young immigrants brought to this country illegally as children died in the U.S. Senate over the weekend. . By a vote of 55-41, the measure failed to receive the 60 votes needed to end debate and proceed in the legislative process. Reaction to the vote following:
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From the Hispanic National Bar Association:
The HNBA commends the 55 members from both political parties of the Senate who voted to end debate on the DREAM Act, as well as the members of the U.S. House of Representatives who passed the bill last week, despite the fact the Act will ultimately not become a reality during this Congressional session.
"It is a great disappointment that even after Congressional leaders and supporters of the bill made difficult concessions to address other members' concerns, including presenting DREAM as stand-alone legislation, the Senate as a whole failed to make this legislation a reality," said Diana S. Sen, HNBA President. "Our over 10-year old hope to get DREAM enacted is yet again a dream deferred," stated Ms. Sen. "Make no mistake, Senators opposing the DREAM Act will be held accountable by the Hispanic Community for this abject failure to provide a limited but critical opportunity for those wishing to attend higher education or serve in the U.S. military," added Ms. Sen.
The U.S. Senators who opposed DREAM today failed to honor the bi-partisan history of this almost 10-year old legislation and failed to move the country forward and allow these undocumented young people to regularize their status and contribute the estimated $2.3 billion in revenues to the country over the next decade. "Although we are deeply disappointed to see 41 Senators from both sides of the isle ignore the call to shape this country's future, strengthen our national security, and allow these students the opportunity to give back to this country, we will continue to galvanize HNBA members and the broader community supportive of the DREAM Act and Comprehensive Immigration Reform," added Ms. Sen.
- From Florida Minority Community Reinvestment Coalition (FMCRC) Chair Al Pina:
Republican Senators Send Message To Latino Children:
YouAre No Better Than A Piece of Junk
FMCRC Letter Below
Dream Act Vote Tally Below
FMCRC Chair Al Pina:
"The actions by thoseSenators on killing the Dream Act, mostly Republican,are actions of cowards.Pathetic cowards who chose to attack the dreams of our children.For what runsthrough the veins of these children runs through the veins ofEVERY latino American in this country.As a veteran their actionsdigust me.As a human being their actionsdisgust me.I haveput my life on the line to fight for our children...the question I have for every Latino in this country is what are yougoing to do to defend your childrens future and dreams?Remember the Dream Act at the polls.That is what you can andshould do.For this is our country too."
Copy of Letter Sent Via Certified Mail:
814 Ponce de Leon Blvd Suite 210, Miami FL 33134
2302 W.
December 20, 2010
SenatorGeorge LeMieux (Florida)
356 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Jeff Sessions (Alabama)
326 Russell Senate Office Bldg
Washington D.C. 20510
RE: Republican Attack Latino Children
Dear Senator Sessions and Senator LeMieux:
Your actions and those of your colleagues in the United States Senate that killed the Dream Act utterly disgust me.I have no words to describe the disgust I have for your actions and every Senator, mostly Republicans, that killed the dreams of the children whose blood is my blood.
Your actions are that of cowards that feed upon the fears of others.This has nothing to do with politics but just outright civility.I am an Independent and do not give one damn about political parties.I care only about humanity.I do not wrap myself around an American flag and sell myself as an American tonic as most of you do that opposed the Dream Act.Your actions are that of cowards who choose to pick upon the helpless.
Let me assure you this,“we shall remember the Dream Act in two years at the polls…God as my witness”.For your actions that harmed these innocent Latino children is no different as if you harmed my newborn Son.Your actions and those by every Republican Senator have sent a message loud and clear to Latino families:our children can go to hell.
We shallRemember the Dream Actand your cowardly actions that harmed the dreams of innocent children.
Cordially,
Al Pina
Chair
FL HQ:
www.fmcrc.org
pina@fmcrc.org
(813) 598-6361 cell
(941) 284-0688 office
admin@fmcrc.org
Republicans Vote Against
Latino Children: Vote Count Below
Here's the list of the 41 Senators who voted against allowing the Dream Act To Be Voted ON:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LI...00278#position
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate
Vote Summary
Question: On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment No. 3 to H.R. 5281 )
Vote Number: 278 Vote Date: December 18, 2010, 11:09 AM
Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Cloture Motion Rejected
Measure Number: H.R. 5281 (Removal Clarification Act of 2010 )
Measure Title: A bill to amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify and improve certain provisions relating to the removal of litigation against Federal officers or agencies to Federal courts, and for other purposes.
Vote Counts:
YEAs 55
NAYs 41 (VOTED AGAINST DREAM ACT)
Not Voting 4
Alphabetical by Senator Name
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Barrasso (R-WY), Nay
Baucus (D-MT), Nay
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Begich (D-AK), Yea
Bennet (D-CO), Yea
Bennett (R-UT), Yea
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Bond (R-MO), Nay
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Brown (D-OH), Yea
Brown (R-MA), Nay
Brownback (R-KS), Nay
Bunning (R-KY), Not Voting
Burr (R-NC), Nay
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Cardin (D-MD), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Coburn(R-OK), Nay
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Collins (R-ME), Nay
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Coons (D-DE), Yea
Corker (R-TN), Nay
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Crapo (R-ID), Nay
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Ensign (R-NV), Nay
Enzi (R-WY), Nay
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Franken (D-MN), Yea
Gillibrand (D-NY), Yea
Graham (R-SC), Nay
Grassley (R-IA), Nay
Gregg (R-NH), Not Voting
Hagan (D-NC), Nay
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Hatch (R-UT), Not Voting
Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Inhofe (R-OK), Nay
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Johanns (R-NE), Nay
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Kirk (R-IL), Nay
Klobuchar (D-MN), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Kyl (R-AZ), Nay
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
LeMieux (R-FL), Nay
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Yea
Manchin (D-WV), Not Voting
McCain (R-AZ), Nay
McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Menendez (D-NJ), Yea
Merkley (D-OR), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Nay
Pryor (D-AR), Nay
Reed (D-RI), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Risch (R-ID), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Sanders (I-VT), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Sessions (R-AL), Nay
Shaheen (D-NH), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Nay
Snowe (R-ME), Nay
Specter (D-PA), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Tester (D-MT), Nay
Thune (R-SD), Nay
Udall (D-CO), Yea
Udall (D-NM), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Voinovich (R-OH), Nay
Warner (D-VA), Yea
Webb (D-VA), Yea
Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea
Wicker (R-MS), Nay
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
- Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF):
Thomas A. Saenz, MALDEF President and General Counsel, Statement on DREAM Act Vote by the U.S. Senate:
By a vote of 55-41, the U.S. Senate voted against cloture of debate to permit a majority of senators who support the DREAM Act (the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act) to join the House of Representatives and pass this significant legislation.
Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF, issued the following statement in response to today’s vote on the DREAM Act:
"Democracy lost out today as a minority of the United States Senate refused to permit a vote on the merits of the DREAM Act. In the face of extraordinarily committed youth and a nationwide movement, obstinately obstructionist senators refused to allow a bill with obvious and enduring benefits to our nation's future to move forward. Sacrificed to transitory and shortsighted political trends were some of our nation's most critical constitutional and guiding principles. Enactment of the DREAM Act would have vindicated longstanding values that have served to make our nation great. This is a critical political moment, and the Latino community and the entire nation will surely hold accountable the political leaders who cravenly blocked progress today."
For the last decade, MALDEF has advocated on behalf of permitting hard-working undocumented students educated in the United States to achieve their dreams of serving the nation in which they grew up by pursuing higher education or service in the armed forces. The DREAM Act holds substantial public support: 70%, according to a recent poll by First Focus, and 66 %, according to Lake Research Partners. The DREAM Act would provide a qualified path to citizenship otherwise not available to roughly 755,000 immigrant youth and young adults, specifically for those completing two years of college or military service.
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access.
- From The American Civil Liberties Union:
In a disappointing stand against equality, the U.S. Senate has voted 55-41 against moving forward to a floor vote on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act (H.R. 5281). The DREAM Act would have provided affordable post-secondary education and military service opportunities for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, have lived here for at least five years and have graduated from high school. The House passed the DREAM Act last week. The American Civil Liberties Union supported passage of the DREAM Act, which would have promoted equality and fundamental fairness in access to higher education.
The following can be attributed to Joanne Lin, ACLU Legislative Counsel:
“In failing to pass the DREAM Act, the Senate has missed a critical opportunity to help motivated, bright young people fulfill their goals and aspirations. The American dream for many of these students means pursuing higher education or serving their country in the military. This quintessentially American bill would have helped young people achieve their dreams and pursue a better future for themselves and their families. It’s extremely disappointing, as well as contrary to American values of fairness and equality, that young people will be deprived of opportunities for education, growth and service because the Senate failed to pass this bill.”
