FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2010
Contact:
Paco Fabián
(202) 785-1670
Historic House vote for “DREAM Act” builds new momentum in Senate
Washington, DC—NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, today applauded Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s move to table the Senate vote on the “Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act” until next week. The procedural maneuver will provide sponsors and advocates the opportunity to garner the remaining few votes of the 60 needed to pass the bill in the Senate. The Senate’s action came on the heels of the House passage of the “DREAM Act” last night.
“The historic vote in the House of Representatives has sent a clear message to the Senate that it too needs to pass the ‘DREAM Act,’ said NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía. “The bipartisan support from courageous House members such as Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R–FL), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R–FL), and Mario Diaz-Balart (R–FL) should signal to Senate Republicans that they should stop hiding behind process and do the right thing by their constituents and by their country,” stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.
“The House vote has given the ‘DREAM Act’ its best chance ever of enactment, and we and other supporters of this modest, sensible piece of legislation will use that momentum to rally support among the millions of Latinos and other Americans who want to give some of America’s best and brightest students their chance at the American Dream.
“Latinos will long remember what happened in the House last night. And make no mistake—they will be watching closely to see what their senators do next week,” concluded Murguía.
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