April 24, 2010

 Washington, DC— Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement today regarding his desire to pass both immigration and energy reform this year: 

“Immigration and energy reform are equally vital to our economic and national security and have been ignored for far too long.  As I have said, I am committed to trying to enact comprehensive clean energy legislation this session of Congress.  Doing so will require strong bipartisan support and energy could be next if it's ready.  I have also said we will try to pass comprehensive immigration reform.  This too will require bipartisan support and significant committee work that has not yet begun.

“I appreciate the work of Senator Graham on both of these issues and understand the tremendous pressure he is under from members of his own party not to work with us on either measure.  But I will not allow him to play one issue off of another, and neither will the American people.  They expect us to do both, and they will not accept the notion that trying to act on one is an excuse for not acting on the other."