Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., said, "I'm going to celebrate here

Here’s what he had to say about Thursday’s decision.

Working together, we were able to craft a bill that accomplishes the 3-major goals we set out with: Protect the border, provide for the future economic needs of our nation, and for the workforce we'll need in the future, and thirdly, what to do with this large group of people who have come here when we had a broken-down immigration system."

He said his next challenge is convincing the House of Representatives to approve the bill. Their proposal favors deportation and tougher border security measures, he said he thinks that some House members may be softening.Most House members from South Florida -- four Democrats and three Cuban-American Republicans -- they all favor the Senate bill because it would be a path to legal status for the people living in their districts and allow more foreign guest workers to help tend farms and businesses.

Martinez said "Republican Party risks losing its majority status if it alienates the Hispanics it has sought to court." "I've been an optimist all along," he said shortly after Senate passage. "The boundless opportunity that the American dream has to offer -- as proven by my life in this country in many different ways at different times -- shows that all things are possible.

"I believe we will get a bill out of this Congress this year."



Foley is going to back it, so that's one we won't be able to count on to counter act against it.