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Lautenberg Blasts Senate Republicans for Voting Down DREAM ActLautenberg Press Office (202) 224-3224Saturday, December 18, 2010WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today voted in favor of legislation that would allow young adults who were brought into the United States when they were children to apply for conditional legal status to attend college or serve in the military. Republicans blocked the legislation, known as the DREAM Act. “Senate Republicans have turned their back on promising students who are working against all odds to reach their full potential,” Lautenberg said. “The young adults eligible to benefit from this legislation would help to strengthen our country and its workforce, yet Senate Republicans continue to block this legislation.” The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM Act) would permit conditional legal status for young people who came to America before age 16, have lived in the United States for five consecutive years, are under 30 years old at the time the law is passed, and meet certain other requirements. They would become eligible to get their green card after 10 years if they go to college or serve in the military, maintain good moral character, pay back taxes, and meet other standards. The DREAM Act has been introduced with bipartisan support in every Congress since 2001. Twelve Senate Republicans voted in favor of the reforms in 2007. Despite this history of working across the aisle, the bill failed to gain the Republican support needed to advance the bill.
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