(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. [The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. CT at Rebaño Compañerismo Church, 2435 West Division Street, Chicago.]

"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."


http://www.gutierrez.house.gov/index...press-releases