Senate Tables DREAM Act Vote
WASHINGTON - Following a historic 216-198 vote on the DREAM Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, advocates praise yesterday's outcome. Just now, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid moved to table a vote on the DREAM Act, and the motion was approved by a margin of 59-40.
This is a very positive development that will give DREAM Act supporters more time to win the votes necessary to turn the DREAM Act into law. A cloture vote today would have almost certainly failed to get the sixty votes needed. With a majority of Democrats on record supporting the bill, the only thing standing in the way between passing this legislation is a bipartisan breakthrough in the Senate. Eight Republicans supported the bill in the House. On the press call, leaders from the DREAM student movement will be joined by Kevin Appleby of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop; Tyler Moran of the National Immigration Law Center; and Janet Murguia of the National Council of La Raza to react to these important developments and lay out next steps. The DREAM Act is a bipartisan measure that would enable high-achieving young people - immigrants who have been raised here, have worked hard in school, and then pursue higher education or serve in the military - to achieve the American Dream. The DREAM Act allows qualified young people who lack legal immigration status to earn their citizenship and give back to the only country they know as home.
