Democrats hoped that the first ever Senate hearing focused on a bill that would legalize some children of illegal immigrants would help sway Republicans to embrace the legislation. Judging from Tuesday's testimony, Democrats still have a long way to go.  The DREAM Act, or the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, provides legal residency and the eventual chance for illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to become citizens. These immigrants, under the proposed law, could become citizens if they maintain a clean criminal record, graduate from high school and plan on attending college or joining the military.  The bill passed the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives in December, but fell short of the 60 votes necessary to clear the Senate. Now with a GOP-controlled House, the bill faces a tougher road, and Republicans didn't seem to budge on Tuesday.  GOP Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Chuck Grassley of Iowa questioned officials with the Obama administration over several aspects of the bill.  Cornyn questioned the depth of the criminal background check required for prospective DREAM Act beneficiaries, and worried that passing it would encourage more people to illegally enter the U.S., since they would assume that Congress would save them down the road.  "If we pass this bill, will we be back here in 5 years, 10 years?" Cornyn said. "Is this the kind of dream that will reoccur indefinitely?"  Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who has been pushing the DREAM Act for years, and members of the Obama administration defended the bill, saying it had more stringent criminal background checks than those performed on foreigners applying to gain legal status in the U.S., and said it was clearly limited to illegal immigrants who have already been in the country at least five years.  Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said legalizing those law-abiding students would save her department time and money, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said they would generate $1.4 billion in revenue over the next decade for the country if allowed to complete their education, and Undersecretary of Defense Clifford Stanley said they would help fill the ranks of a military that will soon struggle to do so.  Despite the apparent lack of progress Tuesday, Durbin said he will continue his quest to pass the DREAM Act. "It is, I think, one of the most compelling human rights issues of our time," he said.  To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor  . For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to  . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to
GOP shows no interest in DREAM Act - On Politics: Covering the US Congress, Governors, and the 2010 Election - USATODAY.com