This weekend’s vote on the DREAM Act was a disappointment. Republicans voted against a measure to give folks who are American in everything but their legal status an opportunity through military service or education.
I’ll be blunt: this vote failed because a group of Republicans stood with their party, instead of their principles.
Senator John McCain cosponsored the DREAM Act in 2003, 2005, and 2007. But this weekend, he voted against it.
Senator Chuck Grassley cosponsored the DREAM Act in 2003 — and voted against it this weekend.
Neither of them were alone — there are five Republican senators who have voted for the DREAM Act in the past decade, but failed to support it on Saturday.
We need to send a clear message to the Republicans that none of us are going away — that we will continue to fight.That’s why we’re asking people who support the DREAM Act to call the GOP leaders and express their disappointment — and to tell them to stop playing politics with immigration reform.
Call Representative Boehner at (202) 225-6205 and Senator McConnell at (202) 224-2541 today.
When President Obama was in the Senate, he was a cosponsor of the DREAM Act. It remains a major priority for him today.
And OFA supporters like you — along with advocates across the country — have done the important organizing work in our communities to build support for this crucial measure.
But the fight ahead of us will be difficult.
Prominent Republicans have come out against birthright citizenship, fought for English-only laws, and generally moved their party toward greater levels of extremism.
With the House under Republican control in the next Congress, we need to make it clear that we will stand strong for an America built on hard work, fairness, and equality — not one ruled by xenophobia and fear.
This fight isn’t over — and when it comes up in the next Congress, we need to be on the record saying that Republicans can’t hold reform hostage to political games.
Let’s start by telling that to the Republican leaders today. Will you call Representative Boehner at (202) 225-6205 and Senator McConnell at (202) 224-2541?
Thanks for fighting,Mitch
Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America