According to the Bergen RECORD, Thursday, October 24, 2013, House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner “expressed optimism on Wednesday about House action by the end of the year on stalled efforts to overhaul immigration.” In spite of strong opposition from Tea Party representatives, Boehner said, “I still think immigration reform is an important subject that needs to be addressed.”
The House has just five legislative weeks left, although lawmakers indicated that could change.
Boehner’s statement reflects the fact that business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, labor unions, and religious organizations including U.S. Catholic bishops and evangelicals are pressing for immigration legislation.
The Senate already passed a bill with bipartisan support, but it has been languishing in the House.
Most advocates find both the proposed House bill and the Senate bill woefully lacking. The best that can be said is that the effort to pass a bill reflects the realities of an immigration system that is broken and must be fixed.