W.H. makes last appeal for DREAM Act

Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Monday that Congress can’t afford to wait to pass the DREAM Act, even as immigration allies acknowledge there’s little hope of getting the bill done in the lame-duck session.

In his second conference call with reporters in 12 days, Duncan reiterated that the legislation is not an issue of politics or ideology but rather fairness and economic necessity. The DREAM Act would provide a path to citizenship for tens of thousands of young, undocumented immigrants who attend college or serve in the military for at least two years. Critics still dismiss the proposal as “amnesty” for illegal immigrants.

“For our young people, for our country, for our country’s economy, we desperately need to pass the DREAM Act,” Duncan said on a call organized by Conservatives for Comprehensive Immigration Reform. “We have a chance to do it now in the lame-duck session. And I simply don’t think we can afford to wait.”

The former Chicago Public Schools chief, who has been the public face of the Obama administration’s DREAM Act efforts, said he’ll “continue to push extraordinarily hard” for the DREAM Act, speaking with more media outlets this week and continuing to call Republicans and Democrats who might be on the fence.

Duncan said Obama’s support for the bill has been “unequivocal,” echoing comments he made to reporters Nov. 18 that his boss was willing to “spend political capital” on the effort.

But Juan Hernandez, founder of Conservatives for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, said it’s unlikely the DREAM Act would be completed before the new Congress convenes in early January.

While Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) have pledged to bring the bill to a vote in the lame duck, the DREAM Act is competing with last-minute legislation that’s critical to both parties, including a resolution to keep the government funded, an extension of Bush-era tax cuts and the ratification of a new nuclear-weapons treaty with Russia.

“There’s a slim possibility it could pass in the lame duck,” said Hernandez, adding that there is no hope a broad immigration overhaul would pass in the post-election session.

The DREAM Act targets immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children. Those eligible must have entered the U.S. before age 16, have lived in the country at least five years, have a clean record, and have earned a high school diploma or GED certificate, among other requirements.

“These are young people who have played by all the rules, who have gone to school, who have worked hard, who have good grades, who’ve had good attendance, but once they graduate from high school, the doors of opportunity slam shut on them,” Duncan said. “If we want these young people to be productive citizens, if we want them to be contribute to our country, to our economy, we have to give them a chance to go on to college.”

Republican opponents have dismissed the bill as Democratic pandering to the party’s Hispanic base, and warned that it would provide “amnesty” for lawbreakers and encourage more illegal immigration.

But former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, a Republican, said it would be a “shame” not to pass the bill in the lame duck.

Gutierrez, who spoke on the same call as Duncan, said it’s critical for DREAM Act backers to keep the broader goal of comprehensive immigration reform in mind, and explain how the bill fits in that plan.

“We’re very clear this is not a substitute for comprehensive immigration reform, and we should not allow it to become a substitute for comprehensive immigration reform,” said Gutierrez, who served under President George W. Bush. “This needs to be positioned as a first step in a comprehensive solution and not a substitute for a comprehensive solution.”

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1110/45681.html

What the hell happened, guys? I thought there was supposed to be a vote, I turned on the TV and saw them talking about tax cuts

Thats the priority and its taking time.

I thought the vote was taking place tomorrow?

Like they say, the vote can happen this week or sometime next week, what was planned for today was a discussion on the DA.

We don't know yet the Senate schedule. Nothing is posted on the Senate calendar except for the food safety bill, which they're going to work into the night to finish by tonight.

It does not matter when they vote as long as its in the Lame Duck.

Well national safety is top priority. Let me kick some a*** god******! I am willing to give 6 years of my life kicking a** just let me do it already!