Momentum is building for the DREAM Act to be passed during this year's Lame Duck session of Congress.
Politico reports:
Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Rep. Nydia Velasquez (D-N.Y.) and Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) will meet with President Barack Obama Tuesday afternoon to talk about the chances of getting comprehensive immigration reform or the DREAM Act passed in the lame duck session, a House Democratic source said.
Immigration advocates want to know how much the White House supports a vote on either bill in the next few weeks. Menendez said on a conference call with reporters Monday that the White House is "ready and willing" to talk about immigration.
The news comes after Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi expressed her desire to see a DREAM Act vote as soon as possible:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) could bring the DREAM Act to the floor as early as this week. The measure provides a path to citizenship for young illegal immigrants who attend college for two years or join the military.
Notably, key Republican voices have also spoken up for DREAM in recent days, such as Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), who yesterday called on Speaker Pelosi to schedule a vote on the legislation this year; Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), who noted her support for moving DREAM in an interview with Univision; and incoming Representative David Rivera (R-FL), who told Jorge Ramos that he supports the DREAM Act on Al Punto.
The leading figure on Spanish-language television, Univision's Jorge Ramos has also penned a column (in Spanish) reminding both parties that the DREAM Act is a practical and common-sense approach to strengthening America’s future both economically and militarily, while living up to our best traditions as a nation of immigrants.
Last night MSNBC did a special immigration "Townhall" event, which featured a young Arizona DREAM engineer, who wanted to serve in the military but was blocked from doing so, as a result of his status.
Watch it:
Finally, the nation's leading Spanish newspaper, La Opinión, weighed in on the stakes for passing DREAM, concluding that the the "time to act is now!" Check it out:
This is the moment to make the effort to pass the DREAM Act and open up the path for hundreds of thousands of young people to enter the university or serve in the Armed Forces...This legislative session is filled with dozens of legislators who have either lost their reelection or are planning to retire. They have nothing to lose by doing the right thing and voting for a bill that will help the economy in the short and long term by preparing our country’s future labor force. And, at the same time, they will be strengthening the military. Political savvy and determination will be needed to pass this legislation. Opportunities exist to attach it to other bills if it appears that it cannot be approved on its own. With so much at stake, the time to act is now!"