The U.S. Senate votes today on the union-supported DREAM (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) Act. A vote in the U.S. House of Representatives is expected soon as well.
The DREAM Act, which has been supported by NYSUT, the AFT and the NEA since its introduction in 2001, would apply to students who were under 16 when they arrived in the U.S., have been in the country at least five years and have a diploma from a U.S. high school or the equivalent. The law would allow young people to become legal residents after spending two years in college or in the military.
TAKE ACTION: Write your senators today. Tell them to support the DREAM Act
UPDATE: Nov. 29, 2010
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) plans to introduce the DREAM Act as a stand alone bill during this week's session of the Senate. In the past the DREAM Act has been offered as an amendment to larger pieces of legislation.
Both Senators Gillibrand and Schumer are sponsors of the DREAM Act and have continued to support getting the bill to the floor with a straight up or down vote. Please click below to contact both senators to remind them to keep the pressure on their colleagues to pass the DREAM Act.
UPDATE: Sep. 22, 2010
Yesterday, the US Senate voted against a procedural vote that would end debate on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. Attached to the bill as amendments were the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, and the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy in the military. It was the addition of both amendments to the Defense Act that caused Republicans and two Democrats from Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor, to start a filibuster.
The DREAM Act has been supported by NYSUT, AFT, and NEA since its introduction in 2001. It would allow young people to become legal U.S. residents after spending two years in college or in the military. It applies to students who were under 16 when they arrived in the U.S., have been in the country at least five years and have a diploma from a U.S. high school or the equivalent.
On September 21st, the Senate filibuster of the bill was maintained in a 56-43 vote. It would have taken 60 votes to invoke cloture, stop the filibuster and move the bill along.
POSTED: Sep. 20, 2010
The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, which is aimed at ensuring that immigrant children who grow up in the United States will be able to get the education they need to contribute to society.
Under the DREAM Act, qualified students who come to the United States before age 16 are eligible to gain legal permanent status if they earn a college degree or complete two years of military service. The time has come to empower these dedicated individuals to live the American dream.
This legislation reflects a deeply held union belief embedded in NYSUT's Principles for Defining Excellence from pre-school through college: that every student should have access to a quality education.