Reid: DREAM Act Will be Added to Defense Authorization Bill - please call and demonstrate support

[Derechos]

Good news for DREAM Act supporters: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced today the act will be added as an amendment to the defense authorization bill. The bill would provide paths to citizenship for some undocumented students who came to the U.S. as children.
It’s been a long time coming for the DREAM Act, which was first proposed in 2001. It went up for a vote once, in 2007, but was eight votes short of overcoming a filibuster. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), one of the original sponsors, introduced the bill in this session in March 2009.

Reid had previously expressed doubt that he could find the votes to pass the act, but at a stakeout today seemed confident it could pass as part of the defense authorization bill.

“When that passes, millions of children will be able to get the education they need to contribute to our economy,” he said. “Boys and girls who come here before they turn 16 and have been here for five years — kids who grew up as Americans — should be able get their green card after go to college or serve in the military.”

http://washingtonindependent.com/97398/reid-dream-act-will-be-added-to-defense-authorization-bill

Please call Congress to urge the passage of the Dream Act. The The Capitol Hill switchboard is 1-888-254-5087 or call your representative today.

For more info on Dream Act see - http://dreamact.info/

[blondeatlast]

1. SWEET! Let's make it happen!

:bounce:

k/r

[mmonk]

2. Excellent. Hope more moves like this are to come.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. A DUer predicted this last week.

Kudos for that person.

[Beetwasher]

4. Smart Maneuvering By Reid

[KamaAina]

5. All us Reid-bashers need to stand down for this one

it takes precisely the round objects we keep saying he lacks to attach something even mildly controversial to the sacrosanct defense bill. :thumbsup:

[bluestateguy]

6. Does that enhance, diminish or have no effect upon DADT repeal

because I'll be honest with you, DADT repeal is more important to me.

[BzaDem]

7. It shouldn't have much of an affect. It is an amendment, which means it can be voted up or down

separate to the rest of the bill.

The DREAM act usually has bipartisan support (i.e. Hatch, Lugar) so it should win. But even assuming Republicans want to deny Obama any immigration-related accomplishment, the amendment can still be voted down without killing the DADT repeal.