Last Tuesday, in an 84-15 vote, the Senate moved to open formal debate on the comprehensive immigration overhaul bill, S. 744, which includes Senator Leahy’s EB-5 amendment. IIUSA is pleased that the EB-5 amendment was included on S. 744, and is working tirelessly to get our substantive comments included in the final version of the legislation. The is is the first test of what is sure to be many for the “Gang of Eight” legislation which passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee last month. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) stated that he expects several weeks of deliberation before final votes on the bill are cast over this summer.
Advocates of immigration reform want a final vote to be at least 70 or more in hopes that an overwhelming vote will pressure House Speaker John Boehner to bring the bill to the House via the Hastert Rule. It is still unclear how the House will proceed, but Speaker Boehner sounded hopeful that CIR would be passed in both chambers of Congress by the end of this calendar year.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW IIUSA’s SUBSTANATIVE COMMENTS ON THE EB-5 AMENDMENT ON S. 744
