The dreams of nearly 150,000 undocumented young people living in New York State may come true this week after months of rallies, protests, sit-ins, teach-ins and hunger strikes all in an effort to force Congress to pass the DREAM Act.

The DREAM Act would allow undocumented young people who have remained in school the opportunity to apply for temporary legal status while they attend college or serve in the military. After completion of a six-year waiting period and two years of college or military service, these young people may adjust their status to become legal permanent residents of the U.S. The bill would also remove an unfair penalty levied against states that allow undocumented immigrant students to attend public universities and pay in-state tuition rates; each state has the authority to grant all of its students, regardless of immigration status, access to in-state tuition at public universities.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has announced that he will add the DREAM Act as an amendment to the defense authorization bill that Congress will take up this week. On Tuesday, Sept. 21, Reid is expected to make a motion to proceed on the defense authorization bill pending before the Senate. The DREAM Act will be one of several amendments to the defense bill.

Senator John McCain, whose position on the DREAM Act has changed several times in the past few years, has dug in his heels in opposition to Senator Reid’s proposal and is now rallying his GOP colleagues to vote against the already overdue defense authorization bill to avoid the enactment of the DREAM Act.

The young people who stand to benefit from this important bill deserve the opportunity to pursue higher education or express their commitment to the country they call home through military service. A vast majority of these young people were brought to the United States by their parents at a very young age and only know America as their home. These young adults are already a part of our communities; they are our classmates, neighbors, teammates and our friends and they are eager to contribute to the future of America, a country that has already granted them so much hope and opportunity. But, without the DREAM Act, these young people will never be able to reap the benefits of all the contributions they have made to our nation.

While here in New York, we are grateful that Senators Schumer and Gillibrand have taken the right position on the DREAM Act, there are plenty of states whose senators still have not yet recognized how valuable this legislation is to America’s future. All senators, no matter where they stand on DREAM, should hear from their constituents that you support the DREAM Act and that America is still the country where anyone can come to realize their dreams. So whether you live in New York or elsewhere, take action today to support the DREAM Act!