Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said at a hearing on Wednesday that his committee would be unable to mark up an immigration bill next month because the bipartisan group of Senators failed to complete a draft in time.
“For months I have urged the President to send his proposal for comprehensive immigration reform to the Senate,” he said, according to his prepared remarks. “I understand he has delayed releasing it at the request of a few Senators who are engaged in secret, closed door discussions on their own proposal and who committed to completing it by the beginning of March. That deadline and others have come and gone.”
He added that “without legislative language, there is nothing for the Judiciary Committee to consider this week at our mark up.
“The upcoming recess period would have allowed all Members of the Committee and the American people to review the legislation,” Leahy said. “Now that process and our work will be delayed at least a month.”
