House Passes DREAM Act -- Senate Struggling To Round Up 60 Votes
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The House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act on Wednesday night, but Democratic leaders in the Senate postponed their own test vote on the targeted illegal immigration measure until Thursday morning because of fears that they lacked the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster.
To the sound of cheers of approval and with a beaming smile, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced the bill passed 216-198. Eight Republicans supported the measure while 38 Democrats voted against it. A motion to open debate on the bill had passed earlier with zero Republican support.
The Senate is scheduled to start considering a motion to discuss the DREAM Act at 6:30 a.m. PDT Thursday.
The DREAM Act would allow young people who come into this country illegally to achieve legal permanent residency after a six-year provisional period if they get a high school degree and make it through two years of college or the military. An estimated 2.1 million undocumented immigrants would be immediately impacted, though a much smaller share of them likely would end up reaching legal status. Like all other green card holders, DREAM Acters would still not be allowed to vote.
Democrats have been pushing the DREAM Act as a way to cater to Hispanic voters and labor union leaders, who will likely play a key role in the 2012 presidential election.
The illegal immigrants covered must have come to the U.S. before the age of 16. They must be under the age of 30, have no criminal records and have been living in the U.S. for at least five years before applying for legal status.
Democrats have cited studies saying the measure would not cost taxpayers anything, but would instead bring $2.5 billion into government coffers. The students would not be eligible for Pell grants or health care. However, the act would begin to cost the government millions after the first decade of its existence.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) said the act would help kids who did nothing wrong other than "obey their parents."
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) said the bill was more "nightmare" than "dream."
Pelosi delivered the longest address in support of the measure:
Reach executive producer Paresh Dave here. Follow him on Twitter: @peard33.
Comments
My name is Daniel P. Ortega, and I have 2 nephews that fall into this status that the Dream Act represents. Both of these young men came here to California at ages 6 & 4 illegally from Mexico. Their mother brought them here to start a new life as a young, single mother, with only thoughts of making a better life for her and her kids. They struggle immensely stil today, but have always worked hard, follow the laws of the land, and promote great moral standards. The boys have both graduated high school, and are in their 1st and 2nd year of Community College at this time, with one nephew aiming for a degree in Vetinarian Studies, and the other aiming for a Polictical Science Degree. This Dream Act, if passed through the Senate, will be a great, positive reinforcement for the United States government, because of the millions of dollars in Federal & State Taxes that it would bring in from the newly founded taqx payers, and would also allow people to strive for those professional jobs that would help in our future Infrastructure of our land, the health & well being of our citizens, and the strength our our country's military. This Act is a Win Win for everybody in this country, both for the people that would be affected by this Bill, and our country that would positively increase monitarily.
Senators, both Democrats & Republicans, keep this in mind when you vote for this bill next week, and remember the great words of Martin Luther Kind "I have a dream!"
Sincerely,
Mr. Daniel P. Ortega
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[...] House Passes DREAM Act; Senate Struggling To Round Up 60 Votes | Neon Tommy neontommy.com/news/2010/12/house-passes-dream-act-senate-struggling-round-60-votes – view page – cached The House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act on Wednesday night, but Democratic leaders in the Senate postponed their own test vote on the targeted illegal immigration measure until Thursday morning because of fears that they lacked the 60 votes necessary to overcome a filibuster. Tweets about this link [...]