Senate Majority Leader Reid Files Cloture On DREAM With Vote Expected Wednesday

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, filed cloture on the motion to proceed to a stand alone vote on the DREAM Act.

This is not an actual stand alone vote on this economy helping, military preparedness strengthening legislation, but rather a vote to move to a stand alone vote.

If Senate Democrats are able to get 60 votes on wednesday, they will have another vote on final passage at a later time.

The full statement is below:

Sen. Reid today filed a cloture petition on the motion to proceed to the DREAM Act, setting up a likely vote for Wednesday. This bill would require children who came to America before the age of 16 and who have lived here at least five years to serve in the military or get a college education in order to gain legal status:

“Today I moved to bring up the DREAM Act, a bipartisan bill true to America’s core values that would strengthen our military and our economy while reducing the deficit.

“The DREAM Act would reduce our deficit by $1.4 billion over the next 10 years through the increased tax revenues that individuals who attend college and earn legal status will generate as they become doctors, engineers, or otherwise realize their full potential. And with our military overstretched and service members facing multiple deployments, this bill would strengthen our Armed Forces. That’s why the Pentagon, even under Republican administrations, has supported it for years.

“I hope my Republican colleagues, especially those who have supported the DREAM Act in the past, will join us in passing a bill that helps our economy and strengthens the military.”

The House is also expected to vote on Wednesday.