Entire sections of the Senate gallery were filled with spectators, most of them young and wearing shirts that read “Dreams,” ahead of the historic vote on immigration reform. Their faces were filled with anxiety, tears forming in some of their eyes.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) delivered an impassioned speech just before the vote began, thanking his colleagues for their work on the legislation. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) looked at each other somberly before the roll call vote began. They soon voted against it.
Several spectators whispered “yesss” as Republican senators voted Aye. One onlooker smiled and pounded his fist in the air as Sen. Jeff Chiesa (R-NJ), who was appointed to replace the late Frank Lautenberg, voted Aye.
It ended 68 senators voting Aye and 32 senators voting Nay. Every Democratic and independent senator voted for the bill; all the opposition came from Republicans.
Vice President Joe Biden, who was presiding over the vote, ordered that nobody in the gallery express their sentiments about the bill. But that didn’t matter. As passage was announced, members of the audience began chanting “yes, we can!” — before they were shushed and quietly left the chamber.
