The vote on the House version is expected to reach the Senate next week. See below releases from the National Immigration Forum and Congressman Gutierrez.
National Immigration Forum]<
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=C%2F2%2F0J92hs3VYs0aaV%2Br%2B6vN5hyRMmvU>The Senate vote on a motion to table the DREAM cloture vote, which took place moments ago, reflected a strategic decision to buy time to build more support for the DREAM Act.
If you were watching the vote or saw a headline about it, you may have been puzzled as to why Senate Leader Reid made a motion to table his own cloture motion, and why so many Democrats voted for it. Why did this happen?
It’s complicated. Republicans have vowed to block every bill in the Senate until the issues of tax cuts and funding of the government for the current fiscal year are resolved. Democratic leadership decided they would push back the DREAM vote until these other issues are resolved. Once the tax cuts and government funding are dealt with, Republicans will not be able to use them as excuses to oppose the DREAM Act.
However: Senator Reid needed “Unanimous Consent” to withdraw his cloture motion and push back the vote. He did not get it, forcing him to offer a motion to table the cloture vote.
Procedural trick: By tabling the cloture vote, Democrats will be able to bring the DREAM Act up again in the coming days when the other issues have been resolved.
Bottom line: Our allies in the Senate know that DREAM supporters have momentum coming out of the House victory yesterday. They want to take the additional time, remove excuses now being made by Republicans, and cultivate more support for DREAM in the Senate.
A real vote on DREAM in the Senate will be scheduled later. Please continue to contact your Senators and tell them to support the Dream Act.
Here again is the phone number you can call to be patched through to your Senators offices: 866-996-5161.
We will keep you posted as more information becomes available on the schedule for a Senate vote on the DREAM Act.
Rep. Gutierrez Praises Sen. Reid for Plan To Put House-Passed DREAM Act Bill on Senate Floor Next Week
Rep. Gutierrez Praises Sen. Reid for Plan To Put House-Passed DREAM Act Bill on Senate Floor Next Week
Rally in Chicago Tonight To Launch National Mobilization for Senate Passage
December 9, 2010
Media Contact: Douglas Rivlin (202) 225-8203
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Washington, DC) – Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) today celebrated the House DREAM Act victory while making plans to get the DREAM Act passed by the Senate and signed into law. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced this morning that he will file the House-passed bill for debate on the Senate floor next week.
"Senator Reid is a champion of sensible immigration policy and is working very hard to get the DREAM Act signed into law," Rep. Gutierrez said. "The announcement that the Senate will consider the House-passed bill is great news because it gives us the opportunity to get the DREAM Act to the President's desk before we adjourn. We now have the weekend and into next week to launch a national mobilization to get the votes to enact this important bill that could literally change the course of hundreds of thousands of young lives and make our country and our military stronger."
The Congressman will attend a rally and celebration in Chicago this evening to stand with DREAM Act-eligible students, their families, and other supporters to immediately launch the Senate vote-gathering effort.
"We saw last night in the House that there is genuine support for the DREAM Act that crosses party lines," Rep. Gutierrez said of the 216-198 vote to pass the bill as an amendment to H.R. 5281. "We forged a coalition of Democrats and a handful of clear-thinking Republicans to put the DREAM Act over the finish line in the House. We can do the same in the Senate if we work hard over the next several days."
"In the House, we were inspired by DREAM Act students who have persevered and succeeded against all odds," Rep. Gutierrez continued. "We are trying to follow the example of these young leaders and keep moving forward. When we had been counted out, we stuck with it. The House, the White House, and the broad movement for immigration reform will make it clear to every Senator in both parties that they stand at an historic crossroads. This is not about politics but about the aspirations of families and whole communities across the 50 states. We will not let this opportunity pass without doing everything we can to get a bill to President Obama for his signature."
Rally in Chicago Tonight To Launch National Mobilization for Senate Passage
December 9, 2010
Media Contact: Douglas Rivlin (202) 225-8203