The Senate voted 82-15 on Tuesday to end debate on a motion to proceed to a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
Senators are expected to vote in an hour to proceed to the bill, which will launch a weeks-long floor debate on immigration reform.
Three of the four Republican members of the Gang of Eight — Sens. Marco Rubio
Marco Antonio RubioDemocrats look past Election Day in Barrett fight Rubio calls for 'frequent, detailed & transparent updates' from White House regarding Trump's health Hillicon Valley: Senate panel votes to subpoena Big Tech executives | Amazon says over 19,000 workers tested positive for COVID-19 | Democrats demand DHS release report warning of election interference MORE (R-Fla.), Lindsey Graham
Lindsey Olin GrahamThe Hill's Campaign Report: Pence, Harris square off in Salt Lake City Graham urges Trump to consider bipartisan COVID-19 relief package Cook Political Report moves South Carolina Senate race to 'toss-up' MORE (R-S.C.) and Jeff Flake
Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeBiden holds 8-point lead over Trump in Arizona: poll How fast population growth made Arizona a swing state Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 MORE (R-Ariz.) — were joined by more than 20 other GOP senators in voting to advance the debate. Sen. John McCain
John Sidney McCainPence targets Biden over ISIS hostages, brings family of executed aid worker to debate Pence, Harris dodge direct answers in policy-focused debate Kelly tops McSally by double digits in Arizona Senate race MORE (R-Ariz.) supports the measure, but missed the vote. That strong support is expected to dwindle if certain amendments aren't agreed to.
"As an elected leader in my party, it’s my view that we at least need to try to improve a situation that, as far as I can tell, very few people believe is working well either for our own citizens, or for those around the world who aspire to become Americans," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellPence, Harris dodge direct answers in policy-focused debate Trump gambles with new stimulus strategy Top Democrats introduce resolution calling for mask mandate, testing program in Senate MORE (R-Ky.) said ahead of the vote Tuesday. "I’ll vote to debate it and for the opportunity to amend it, but in the days ahead, there will need to be major changes to this bill if it’s going to become law."
McConnell and Sens. John Cornyn
John CornynOvernight Health Care: Trump to be released from hospital | Doctor won't answer key questions | CDC says virus can spread through airborne transmission The Hill's Campaign Report: Trump to leave Walter Reed l Post-debate polls show Biden building big lead l Coronavirus concerns ahead of VP debate Cornyn: Trump 'let his guard down' on coronavirus MORE (Texas), Kelly Ayotte
Kelly Ann AyotteGOP anxiety grows over Trump political roller coaster Bottom line Bottom line MORE (N.H.), Deb Fischer
Debra (Deb) Strobel FischerGOP senators pan debate: 'S---show,' 'awful,' 'embarrassment' Hillicon Valley: Election officials prepare for new Russian interference battle | 'Markeyverse' of online fans helps take down a Kennedy | GOP senators unveil bill to update tech liability protections Google, Apple, eBay to meet virtually with lawmakers for tech group's annual fly-in MORE (Neb.), Rob Portman
Robert (Rob) Jones PortmanDemocrats look past Election Day in Barrett fight Another fiscal year, another CR; it's time for this nonsense to end McConnell locks down key GOP votes in Supreme Court fight MORE (Ohio), John Thune
John Randolph ThuneGOP anxiety grows over Trump political roller coaster Hillicon Valley: Senate panel votes to subpoena Big Tech executives | Amazon says over 19,000 workers tested positive for COVID-19 | Democrats demand DHS release report warning of election interference GOP cool to White House's .6T coronavirus price tag MORE (S.D.), Orrin Hatch
Orrin Grant HatchMellman: What happened after Ginsburg? Bottom line Bottom line MORE (Utah), Jeff Chiesa (N.J.), Roger Wicker
Roger Frederick WickerAmericans want to serve — it's up to us to give them the chance Hillicon Valley: Senate panel votes to subpoena Big Tech executives | Amazon says over 19,000 workers tested positive for COVID-19 | Democrats demand DHS release report warning of election interference The Hill's 12:30 Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Government funded through Dec. 11 after Trump's late-night bill signing MORE (Miss.), Thad Cochran
William (Thad) Thad CochranEspy wins Mississippi Senate Democratic primary Bottom Line Mike Espy announces Mississippi Senate bid MORE (Miss.), Pat Toomey (Pa.), Lamar Alexander
Andrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderThis week: Coronavirus complicates Senate's Supreme Court fight Poll finds support for independent arbiters resolving 'surprise' medical bills Democratic Senate candidate in Tennessee discusses working-class background MORE (Tenn.), John Hoeven
John Henry HoevenDavis: The Hall of Shame for GOP senators who remain silent on Donald Trump Bottom line Bipartisan senators seek funding for pork producers forced to euthanize livestock MORE (N.D.), Richard Burr
Richard Mauze BurrHillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns Bipartisan representatives demand answers on expired surveillance programs Rep. Mark Walker says he's been contacted about Liberty University vacancy MORE (N.C.), Rand Paul
Randal (Rand) Howard PaulTop Democrats introduce resolution calling for mask mandate, testing program in Senate Democratic Rep. Carbajal tests positive for COVID-19 This week: Coronavirus complicates Senate's Supreme Court fight MORE (Ky.), Susan Collins
Susan Margaret CollinsHickenlooper raises .6M for Colorado Senate bid Susan Collins: Trump didn't set a 'good example' by taking mask off at White House Collins says Gideon 'will say or do anything to try to win' MORE (Maine), Jerry Moran
Gerald (Jerry) MoranLobbying world This World Suicide Prevention Day, let's recommit to protecting the lives of our veterans Hillicon Valley: Zuckerberg acknowledges failure to take down Kenosha military group despite warnings | Election officials push back against concerns over mail-in voting, drop boxes MORE (Kan.), Roy Blunt
Roy Dean BluntThis week: Coronavirus complicates Senate's Supreme Court fight Schumer demands Senate coronavirus testing program after Trump diagnosis GOP cool to White House's .6T coronavirus price tag MORE (Mo.), Dan Coats
Daniel (Dan) Ray CoatsAvoiding the 1876 scenario in November Democrat asks intelligence director if Trump's personal debt is security problem FBI chief says Russia is trying to interfere in election to undermine Biden MORE (Ind.), Dean Heller
Dean Arthur HellerOn The Trail: Democrats plan to hammer Trump on Social Security, Medicare Lobbying World Democrats spend big to put Senate in play MORE (Nev.), Ron Johnson
Ronald (Ron) Harold JohnsonInternal memo links 34 coronavirus cases to White House: report Top Democrats introduce resolution calling for mask mandate, testing program in Senate Democratic Rep. Carbajal tests positive for COVID-19 MORE (Wis.), Bob Corker
Robert (Bob) Phillips CorkerHas Congress captured Russia policy? Tennessee primary battle turns nasty for Republicans Cheney clashes with Trump MORE (Tenn.), Mike Johanns
Michael (Mike) Owen JohannsMeet the Democratic sleeper candidate gunning for Senate in Nebraska Farmers, tax incentives can ease the pain of a smaller farm bill Lobbying World MORE (Neb.), Johnny Isakson
Johnny IsaksonLoeffler tweets edited video showing Trump taking down coronavirus in wrestling match GOP Sen. Thom Tillis tests positive for coronavirus Democrats ramp up pressure on Lieberman to drop out of Georgia Senate race MORE (Ga.) and Saxby Chambliss
Clarence (Saxby) Saxby ChamblissLobbying world GOP lobbyist tapped for White House legislative affairs The Hill's Morning Report - Gillibrand drops out as number of debaters shrinks MORE (Ga.) were the Republicans who voted to advance the bill.
The bipartisan group of eight senators, known as the Gang of Eight, introduced S. 744, which would create a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the country, toughen border security, create a guest worker program and boost high-skilled immigration.
“There are 11 million reasons to pass common-sense immigration reform that mends our broken system — 11 million stories of heartbreak and suffering that should motivate Congress to act,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Harry Mason ReidDemocrats step up hardball tactics in Supreme Court fight Meeting Trump Supreme Court pick a bridge too far for some Democrats GOP senators confident Trump pick to be confirmed by November MORE (D-Nev.) said Tuesday. “The bipartisan proposal before the Senate takes important steps to strengthen border security. It also makes crucial improvements to our broken legal immigration system.”
Democrats have praised part of the bill that would grant citizenship to young people, known as Dreamers, who were brought to the country by their parents without legal documentation.
But some Republicans have complained that the legislation would provide amnesty over 10 years for the nearly 11 million residents in the country illegally before strengthening border enforcement.
The bill makes permanent legal residence contingent on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) having 100 percent situational awareness at every segment of the southern border and a 90 percent apprehension rate. But some GOP senators have suggested that the bill gives DHS too much say over whether the border is secure, leaving Congress powerless to stop the amnesty program if security measures aren’t met.
Sens. Jeff Sessions
Jefferson (Jeff) Beauregard SessionsThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump's erratic tweets upend stimulus talks; COVID-19 spreads in White House The Memo: Team Trump looks to Pence to steady ship in VP debate Watchdog finds top DOJ officials were 'driving force' behind Trump's child separation policy: NYT MORE (R-Ala.), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Chuck Grassley
Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyThe Hill's Morning Report - Trump, first lady in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 Overnight Health Care: Six Republicans break with party on ObamaCare vote | Pfizer CEO 'disappointed' vaccine discussed 'in political terms' | Trump Supreme Court pick signed 'right to life' statement in 2006 On The Money: GOP cool to White House's .6T coronavirus price tag | Company layoffs mount as pandemic heads into fall | Initial jobless claims drop to 837,000 MORE (R-Iowa) have said the bill is similar to the last immigration reform measure in 1986 because it “legalizes first and enforces later.”
“In other words the federal government has always said the right things to the American people, but it has never lived up to its promises,” Cornyn said Tuesday. “This is doable, but we need a leverage to compel the bureaucracy and Congress to get the result the American people want.”
Sessions added that because of the way the legislation is written, he believes Gang of Eight members aren’t really serious about border security.
Sens. Dick Durbin
Richard (Dick) Joseph DurbinTrump pick noncommittal on recusing from election-related cases Dems to focus on issues, not character, at Barrett hearings The cost of being a faithful citizen MORE (D-Ill.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) argued that wasn’t true, pointing out that the bill authorizes more funding for border security and fencing.
“I know it’s hard to do, but I refuse to accept the idea that the most power country in the world — the country that put a man on the moon — is incapable of securing our border,” Rubio said.
Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer
Chuck SchumerPelosi asked if steroids influenced Trump's decision on coronavirus relief Schumer and Statehood for Puerto Rico Trump orders aides to halt talks on COVID-19 relief MORE (D-N.Y.), Durbin, Robert Menendez
Robert (Bob) MenendezWatchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump Kasie Hunt to host lead-in show for MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' Senators ask for removal of tariffs on EU food, wine, spirits: report MORE (D-N.J.) and Michael Bennet
Michael Farrand BennetDemocrats sense momentum for expanding child tax credit OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House Democrats tee up vote on climate-focused energy bill next week | EPA reappoints controversial leader to air quality advisory committee | Coronavirus creates delay in Pentagon research for alternative to 'forever chemicals' Senate Democrats demand White House fire controversial head of public lands agency MORE (D-Colo.) are also part of the Gang of Eight.
This story was updated at 3:28 p.m.