WASHINGTON, DC - This afternoon, the Senate voted down the Department of Defense (DOD) authorization bill, which has passed every year for the past 48 years, along a near party-line vote, 56-43. The GOP's move to block DOD passage also prevents the DREAM Act amendment, a bill that would provide a path to citizenship to high-achieving immigrant youth who grew up here and who commit to serving the U.S. military or attending college. In response, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina issued the following statement:

Today, Republican Senators squashed the dreams of thousands of our best and brightest youth who have asked for nothing more than to make our nation more secure, more prosperous, and more just. Instead of standing up for a smart bill that would make America stronger, the GOP chose more cynicism, more partisan rancor, and more politics.

"As a result, America's promising leaders of tomorrow have fallen victim to our most cynical leaders of today. It is astonishing that not one single Republican leader- including those who have been supporters in the past such as Collins, Snowe, LeMieux and Brown--was willing to stand up to the Tea Party bullies and other extremists in their party. It is outrageous that they put politics ahead of the dreams of these deserving youth and head of the urgent need to insert sanity into a broken system.

"Because of GOP obstructionism, Walter Lara, a 25-year old honor student from Miami, Florida who was brought to the U.S when he was 3 years old will not achieve his dreams of continuing college and his career in computer graphics. Because of GOP obstructionism, Taha, a 19-year old high school graduate and honor student from New Jersey, will not achieve his dream of becoming a pediatrician. Because of GOP obstructionism, Carlos Saveedra--a 23 year old outspoken leader from Boston, Massachusetts who worked as a janitor to put himself through college--will not be able to realize his potential as one of the greatest youth and immigrant rights leaders of our time.

"Today, the GOP did more than turn their backs on thousands of aspiring youth like Walter, Taha and Carlos. They also stood against over 73 percent of Americans who support this smart bill because it would inject a bit of sanity into an immigration debate that has gotten out of control.

"SEIU joins the tens of thousands of activists who made calls, sent faxes and held rallies across this country to thank Senator Reid and the Democrats who stood in favor of this smart-minded bill. However, we need more courage and honor from the Republican Party if we are going to get our country back on track.

"America became a great country because we gave opportunities to hard-working newcomers and those willing to sacrifice for a dream. We need Republican leaders that are willing to stand up for a dream; to stand up to America's greatest values of fairness; and to stand up for a nation in desperate need of progress. We won't back down until we

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