On the recordSeptember 21, 2010
I want everyone within the sound of my voice to understand how much I appreciate--and the thousands and thousands of other people who appreciate--Senator Durbin's advocacy of this issue. I also want everyone else within the sound of my voice to know we are going to vote on the DREAM Act. It is just a question of time. This is so fair. That is all it is about, fairness--basic fairness. I have to say to my friend from Illinois that I feel so bad. I have a stack of letters in my office that are the most heart-wrenching stories about these dreamers. They are dreamers. But I want them to understand this isn't the end of this. We are going to continue to move on it. We know we have been blocked procedurally, but this is the first time we have had our colleagues on the other side of the aisle stand and defy basic fairness on the DREAM Act. They have gone around telling people: Yes, we like it. We like it. But here was their chance. All we wanted to do was bring it to the floor, and they wouldn't even let us do that. They didn't have the courage to allow us to have a vote on this. So I want my friend to know how deeply appreciative I am--and speaking for thousands and thousands of other people--for what he has done on this issue.
