The Path Forward: Immigration and Beyond

Emotionally powerful moments are few and far between here on Capitol Hill but, for the second time in as many days, I found myself very moved. Yesterday, I stood on the House floor and then celebrated in front of the Supreme Court as DOMA was struck down, taking a huge step toward full equality for LGBT Americans. Today, I looked on in the Senate chamber as 54 Democrats and 14 Republicans voted for comprehensive immigration reform. Being there felt like being part of history.

This strong, bipartisan vote should provide a clarion call to Republicans in the House, who are clearly in disarray, that immigration reform is a winning issue - that there is still time for them to get on the right side of history. I saw some former Republican colleagues from the House who are now in the Senate -- Senators Flake, Heller and Kirk -- vote for the immigration bill. Let them serve as a beacon to House Republicans, reminding them that this is a vote about America's future, not about partisan divisions.