DREAM On

On Wednesday, the Senate moved to consider S. 2205, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2007 (DREAM Act), which was introduced on October 18. The move sought to secure 60 votes for cloture, which cuts off debate on a bill and avoids the practice of killing off a bill through a litany of amendments or a filibuster. The vote failed and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), the bill’s sponsor, will now have to find another vehicle for the bill in order to pass it during the 110th Congress. Sen. Durbin has advocated for the matter over the last five years and Majority Leader Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) carried the torch on Wednesday. “I very much appreciate the hard work of Senator Durbin and Senator Hatch to bring this legislation to the floor. They have worked tirelessly to ensure this important bipartisan bill does not go away. We must now invoke cloture and pass this bill. Vote cloture and move to this legislation. If we do, we will put the American dream within the reach of far more children in Nevada and across America who want nothing more than a fair chance at success. That will be an accomplishment of which we can all be proud.” The effort, however, was without success. The result was announced – yeas 52, nays 44. Three-fifths of the Senators did not vote in the affirmative and the motion was rejected.

Resources:
Congressional Record, Daily Digest, Senate, Chamber Action, p.S13300-06.
Author: DAD