SEN. DICK DURBIN: I plan to introduce the bill again next Congress

On Saturday, history came calling in the United States Senate and most of the Republicans turned away.

Two measures of historic import, the DREAM Act and the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, offered to this generation of senators a rare chance to go on record to right obvious injustices. In the end, of the 42 Republican senators, only three voted for the DREAM Act and eight for the repeal of DADT.

The DREAM Act, which I first offered 10 years ago, addresses the plight of infants and children brought here by undocumented parents. Most live their lives pledging allegiance to our flag and believing they are Americans. And yet they are not. They have few legal rights and no legal future in the only country they have ever called home.

The DREAM Act would offer them a steep and rocky path to legal status. Finish high school. Meet the standards of a strict background check, disqualifying them for the commission of any serious crime. Pay fees of $2,500. Undergo a medical examination. Prove your ability to read and write English. And then either serve in the U.S. military or successfully complete at least two years of college. During the 10 years after application they would have no legal right to any government benefits. No Medicaid. No student loans or Pell Grants. During this period their progress would be carefully monitored and any serious violation would disqualify them. Then they would wait three to five years for a chance to prove they are qualified to be naturalized citizens.

Critics of the DREAM Act took to the Senate floor and argued the tragic death last week of an American border guard was reason to defeat this bill. They argue that until our borders are secure these children should have no chance to become legal. Holding these young people accountable for the misdeeds of their parents is bad enough, but holding them all accountable for for the effectiveness of our border security is extreme.

In the end, the final vote was 55-41. The DREAM Act again had a majority of the Senate but not the supermajority necessary to overcome a Republican filibuster. But I will not stop. I plan to introduce the bill again next Congress. As long as I am a member of the Senate, the DREAM Act will not die.


http://www.suntimes.com/opinions/296...ate-legal.html

Many of us are running out of time. What if the age gets reduced to under 25 next time around?? I turn 25 this January . But I won't wail around asking for people call and change it back like some people on this board.

he's the only politician that deserves to be trusted..along with luis gutierrez.

This brought tears to my eyes, even though chances of this happening are Slim unless compromise/amenments. This guy will not quit and hes said this is the most important legislation he has worked with ever since he has been in the senate. I respect him and he is my hero. This guy is not in it just to get reelected he has a purpose and wont stop untill its completed.

Never forget Sen. Durbin!

I want to believe.

This guy is a real leader to us Dreamers I really look up to him he has tons of heart and passion. In the otherhand I think this time around the bill wont just be thrown for a vote, there will be hearings and all that and gop compromises and amendements will most likely be part of the new bill aswell as border security and this time obama will send whatever number the gop asks. Whatever happens Durbin is a person I admire for his efforts.

I pray god, he doesn't introduce the new version again. We need the original bill back. The new version cuts of too many people off and the process is too long. Under the original bill, it would take 6 years to become citizens, not 13.

No matter how many changes we make, the antis are still going to call it amnesty. Even if we write a bill making it extremely hard for people to qualify and meet the requirements, the antis would still call it amnesty.

Remember, Senator (Bitch) Sessions said this bill would grant citizenship to all 12 million people. Obviously, he was lying or he didn't read the bill.

Any bill offering legal status will be called unfair and amnesty.

The bottom line is why make the bill a pain-in-the-ass for us, if in the end it will be called amnesty?

We need the original bill back. It was much more fair to us. That's all.

Meh, it doesn't cost anything politically or otherwise for him to introduce it every session. It's cool and all that he's doing this, but it almost seems futile.

Well... if they pass the filibuster reform we definitely have a better chance. We still gotta keep the momentum going though.

Filibuster reform is most likely to be done the first day of the new congress, which is Jan 5th. The momentum we have is higher than ever. We are getting media attention from every side. If Durbin introduces the 35 age cap, and if we stay organized, I believe we have a chance.