Newark, NJ 6/26/07 -  In a rare procedural move today, the United States Senate voted 64 – 35 to return to the immigration debate.  On June 7, the Senate failed to obtain the 60 votes needed for a cloture vote. New Jersey senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez voted in favor of reopening the debate.

Shai Goldstein, executive director of New Jersey Immigration Policy Network, stated,

“We in New Jersey are fortunate to be represented by Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg. We are grateful for Senator Robert Menendez’s national leadership in ensuring that immigration reform underscores American family values, for we are a family of immigrants. The Cause is just and the time is still now for comprehensive immigration reform.”

“Throughout the Senate debate, Senators Menendez and Lautenberg showed responsiveness to our national security, our nation’s history as a family of immigrants, and public policy based on reason, not rhetoric.

NJIPN believes that true immigration reform must include the following elements:

• Simple and broad legalization for undocumented workers and families;
• Strong worker protections and a path to citizenship for future immigrant workers;
• Family reunification and continued preference for family based immigration;
• Preservation of due process and civil rights; and
• Fair treatment of students and agricultural workers as embodied in the DREAM Act and Ag Jobs legislation.

The immigration issue is not going away.  Our nation’s immigration system is in urgent need of reform, and NJIPN will continue to work for just, humane, workable solutions that promote national security, bring the undocumented out of the shadows, restore order to our immigration system, and uphold our values as a nation of immigrants.”   #   #   #  The New Jersey Immigration Policy Network (NJIPN) is a broad-based network of faith-based, labor, and civil rights organizations in New Jersey which stand firm for fair, real, and humane Comprehensive Reform. We believe that immigration reform is a necessary part of realizing our national vision for a healthy and growing economy, diverse and vibrant communities, strong families, and dignity and respect for all.            Listed below is how all Senators voted today, in order to return to the immigration reform debate.  

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---64

Akaka (D-HI)
Bennett (R-UT)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Bond (R-MO)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Brownback (R-KS)
Burr (R-NC)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Clinton (D-NY)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Craig (R-ID)
Dodd (D-CT)
Domenici (R-NM)
Durbin (D-IL)
Ensign (R-NV)

Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)

Menendez (D-NJ)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Schumer (D-NY)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (R-PA)
Stevens (R-AK)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)

NAYs ---35

Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Bunning (R-KY)
Byrd (D-WV)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)

Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Enzi (R-WY)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Landrieu (D-LA)
McCaskill (D-MO)

Roberts (R-KS)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Sununu (R-NH)
Tester (D-MT)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)

Not Voting - 1

Johnson (D-SD)