MALDEF Calls For "Courage" From Senate

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate voted to delay an up-or-down vote on the DREAM Act (the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act).  By a vote of 59-40, the Senate voted to table the motion to proceed on the motion for cloture.  A vote for cloture was needed in the DREAM Act vote to overcome a threatened filibuster by DREAM Act opponents.  Through this procedural maneuver, Senator Reid and DREAM Act supporters have only postponed a full vote on the DREAM Act for another day, which is expected during the current 'lame duck' session.  The motion to table the bill has provided additional time for current DREAM Act supporters in the Senate to obtain addition votes for the bill before the final vote is called.  In order for the DREAM act to reach the President's desk for his signature into law, the bill will have to garner 60 votes in the Senate.  Constituent supporters are now actively reaching out to their Senators to call for passage of the DREAM Act.

Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF, issued the following statement in response to the vote on the DREAM Act:

"The Senate's delay should be the last postponement of this long-pending and much-needed legislation.  Every senator should permit a vote on the merits of the DREAM Act.  MALDEF calls on the entire Senate to find the courage to make this DREAM a reality."

Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization.  Often described as the “law firm of the Latino community,” MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education, and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights, and political access.