Frustration aside, all this means is that we need to work harder. For us DREAM veterans, this is likely our final stand for DREAM/CIR, and I'm ready to give it one last go. And for those who don't feel a sense of urgency, you will likely be in this very same situation a few years from now so don't let up.

For the New Yorkers on DAP, you can start by holding Schumer accountable for his empty assurances. Light up his lines and inbox! Even if you're not from NY, contact Schumer. If you have relatives in NY, contact Schumer and tell his staff that you and your relatives and/or friends have not forgotten about his frequently-postponed plan to introduce a CIR bill.

For the IL Dreamers (myself included), show your support for Congressman Gutierrez's efforts, even if his bill is not likely to come up for debate.

For all others, contact your reps and senators and ask them to co-sponsor DREAM. Also, if you have a blog or twitter, you need to constantly update it. We need to get viral, and we need to ramp up our social networking / blogging efforts.

If you want to give up because you're too scared that CIR won't pass in an election year, remember that CIR 2006 passed the Senate. Sure, the circumstances were different (particularly Majority Leader Frist's influence among his GOP colleagues), but at least we know it's not impossible.