Debate in the Senate Begins on Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill
On Friday June 7, Majority Leader Harry Reid (Democrat) made the required motion for the Senate to proceed with debate on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill (“S.744). After Majority Leader Reid spoke, those Senators who are opposed to the bill began their critiques.
However, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican) has said Republican leaders will not object to the motion for the bill to move to the Senate floor for debate.
What is the next step?
Once a bill is brought to the Senate floor, the amount of time planned for debate and amendments is usually determined between the Majority and Minority leaders, taking into account things like the bill’s complexity, interest among the Senators, significance, and the other matters before the Senate.
Majority Leader Reid hopes to close debate on the bill by the July 4th recess. Considering the many amendments offered in Senate committee and statements made by many Senators, the debate will likely be intense.
How many votes are needed to pass the bill in the Senate?
The bill may require the senators to agree to close the debate, known as “cloture. Under Senate rules, cloture requires 3/5 of the Senate, or 60 votes, to pass. In 2010, the “DREAM Act legislation failed because the Senate could not agree to close debate. For the bill itself to pass, it requires only a majority of the Senators voting.
What happens if the Senate passes the bill?
If the Senate passes the bill, it will be sent to the House of Representatives. Members of the House may introduce the same bill with small changes, or their own bill.
If the House passes a bill that is different from the Senate bill, the two bills must be reconciled. The reconciliation would be assigned to a committee of appointed Senators and members of the House of Representatives who would then be tasked with drafting a compromise bill.
Stay tuned to our blog for breaking news on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill!
