Bush Speaks at Hispanic Prayer Breakfast

President Bush's speech this morning at the National Hispanic Prayer Breakfast spoke of the legislation before Congress concerning the Immigration Bill.

In the speech, the President gave thanks to the military personnel that were present. He went on to cite an incident at the Coast Guard Academy. Bush said that he was moved when the head of the class got up to speak. The young man spoke of how his grandfather was an immigrant, and had come to this country to start a new life. The President got a round of applause when he said, "Isn't it a fabulous country where a migrant grandfather can come and have a dream and work hard, and there's his grandson talking about the promise of America in front of the President of the United States and his classmates. That's the beauty of America."

President Bush said that we were meeting our moral obligations when we, as a nation, embrace newcomers into our land. He stated we should compassion to the exploited.

Bush said, "One of the reasons that America leads the world is that we've always welcomed people who are determined to embrace our democracy and stand for freedom."

According to the Associated Press, plans were announced Thursday night to bring the bill back into the forefront sometime next week. Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senator Mitch McConnell, from Kentucky, did not say whether the bill would pass.

A statement issued by them said, "We met this evening with several of the senators involved in the immigration bill negotiations. Based on that discussion, the immigration bill will return to the Senate floor after completion" of sweeping energy legislation that has occupied the Senate this week, according to the Associated Press.

President Bush visited the Capitol on Tuesday to ask for a second chance on the bill. Thursday, Bush supported legislation that called for $4.4 billion over the next several years for "securing our borders and enforcing our laws at the work site," according to the Associated Press.

The Associated Press reported that this legislation would be among some of the changes that will be voted on. Another proposal that would toughen requirements for illegal immigrants before gaining legal status would also be brought to vote. This proposal was from Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, a Republican from Texas.

I am posting the link that the Associated Press posted for further reading of the bill. Immigration

Source:
David Espo, Special Correspondent, Associated Press; Bush: Time to Act on Immigration
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IMMIGRATION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-06-15-09-23-57