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June 12, 2013

Senate Votes to Begin Debate on Immigration Bill 
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The Senate has overwhelmingly voted to take up the bipartisan
immigration reform bill that would establish a path to citizenship for
millions of undocumented immigrants while radically expanding border
enforcement. The 84-to-15 vote will kick off what's expected to be a
month-long debate on the bill's passage. At the White House, President
Obama urged lawmakers to send him legislation by summer's end.

President Obama: "The system's still broken. And to truly deal with this
issue, Congress needs to act. ... They've got the support of a broad
cross-section of leaders from every walk of life. So there's no reason
Congress can't get this done by the end of the summer."

Republican leaders followed the vote with a reminder their support for
beginning debate doesn't mean final endorsement of the bill's passage.
Republican co-sponsor Marco Rubio of Florida is now saying he won't
support the bill unless the already-strict border security provisions
are expanded. Tuesday's vote saw a historic moment from Democratic
Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia. Kaine spoke in favor of the immigration
bill with a 15-minute speech entirely in Spanish, the first ever on the
Senate floor.

 

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