House Passes DREAM Act

The controversial immigration bill known as the DREAM Act passed the House of Representatives Wednesday, but the Senate’s approval remained uncertain. Passed mainly along party lines, the DREAM Act allows illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as minors to apply for citizenship after graduating from high school. It has been hotly debated—supporters say kids shouldn’t be punished for being taken to the U.S. illegally, while detractors say it offers amnesty. The DREAM Act also allows its beneficiaries to apply for federal grants, such as Pell Grants, to attend college. The Congressional Budget Office has said the measure will cut the federal deficit by $1.4 billion and increase government revenue by $2.3 billion over the next decade. Earlier in the evening, Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said a scheduling conflict caused a delay of the Senate’s vote.