LEAP: December 2010

A message from LEAP’s Executive Director, Ricardo Sánchez:

Most of you are aware that there has been action this week in the U.S. Congress on the DREAM Act.

The House approved its version of the DREAM Act. The Senate, just this morning, voted to table consideration, which means Senate leaders don’t have the necessary votes. But by delaying the vote, they may be able to change some of the “no” votes to “yea” votes. I suspect they are close to getting the necessary 60 votes that are needed before the actual bill can be voted on in the Senate.

We want to believe that President Obama and Senate leaders are using all of their leverage and negotiating powers to get the votes in the Senate for the DREAM Act. We can be thankful that our two Senators, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, are strong supporters and advocates.

That’s the optimistic view. The alternate view is that the Senate delay means the bill is dead for this session. Stay optimistic—“It’s not over ‘til it’s over,” es el dicho.

As to the House vote, all of the Democrats, with the exception of Brian Baird, 3^rd District, voted yesterday in favor of the DREAM Act. Baird will not be in office next year because he did not run for re-election.

None of the House Republicans voted for the DREAM Act. No votes were Doc Hastings, 4^th District, and Dave Reichert, 8^th District. Cathy McMorris Rogers, 5th District, did not vote.

(We want to comment on the no votes, but we have decency laws… )

Something you can do:

We have been asking our representatives to support the DREAM Act. If you are in one of the districts where your representative supported the DREAM Act, now is a good time to thank them. Please do this – it’s important that they know we appreciate their support:

Jay Inslee, 1^st District http://www.house.gov/inslee/contact/email.html

Rick Larsen, 2^nd District Rick.Larsen@mail.house.gov

Norm Dicks, 6^th District http://www.house.gov/dicks/email.shtml

Jim McDermott, 7^th District http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/contact.shtml

Adam Smith, 9^th District http://adamsmith.house.gov/contact

And, thank our two Senators:

Patty Murray murray.senate.gov/email/index.cfm

Maria Cantwell cantwell.senate.gov/contact/

Finally, don’t give up; never give up. Adelante Siempre!

Latino/a Educational Achievement Project

Ricardo Sanchez

VP, Communications and Educational Services