Immigration Reform 2013: Remain In Session To Tackle This, Too, Says Pelosi

With House Republican leadership contemplating canceling a recess planned for the last week in September, their Democratic counterparts have urged them to keep the chamber in session to work on budget issues and passing a 2013 comprehensive immigration reform bill.

Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., gave lawmakers notice on Thursday that they may be on Capitol Hill the week of Sept. 23, which is currently scheduled as a constituent workweek. An announcement is expected next week.

But it looks like Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and her team are ready to discuss more than a possible government shutdown and the debt-ceiling deadline.

“Keep the House in session so that we can get our work done,” Pelosi said on Thursday. “And that is not just the work about the [continuing resolution] and the rest; it is work about immigration. We have to pass comprehensive immigration reform.”

Republicans could bring the five immigration reform bills, resulting from a piecemeal approach, to the floor for a vote in October. However, they are yet to decide on how to proceed with the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country -- that is, whether to provide legal status or an eventual path to citizenship.

Pelosi recently met with her Democratic colleagues to discuss overhauling the nation’s immigration system. The meeting was said to be “positive” and was mainly a “conversation about continuing to keep pressure on Republicans.”