What it means is that its being refered to the committee for review of the bill.
The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary is a standing committee of the United States Senate, the upper house of the United States Congress. The Judiciary Committee is charged with conducting hearings prior to the Congressional confirmation of a bill.
There are several sub-committee that look at the bill based on their expert level. For this bill, the subcommittee it has been referred to is U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship
Chairman: Saxby Chambliss, Republican-Georgia
Ranking Member: Edward Kennedy, Democrat-Massachusetts
The chairman of the senate of the comittee Arlen Specter can call a bill for review the by committee. There is testimony if the bill should go ahead or not. Testimony by the members etc or they can even invite a civilian immigrant to testify how this bill could hurt them.
If the chairman thinks the bill has had enough "talk" time and everyone knows the positives and negatives about the bill, he can request..or rather DEMAND a vote which is non-debatable. If there is still a problem in getting everyone agreeing to vote or if someone says its not ready to vote, 10 PLUS votes are needed from the entire senate to get the BILL ready to vote..ready or not here I come..!
If you look at the bill going through the house and being passed. It was refered to a committee then to the subcommitte of the house:
1/26/2005:
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
1/26/2005:
Referred to House Homeland Security
1/26/2005:
Referred to House Government Reform
IT will follow the same path in the senate to get a vote..then if its voted Yes with majority, it is moved on to the president to sign and implement...I hope it helps.
