Action will heat up soon in the Senate on an immigration bill that may differ sharply from one the House passed in December. Construction officials, grappling with worker shortages, hope the final Senate version will include a provision to let immigrants stay in the U.S. temporarily, with an option to seek citizenship.
When the Senate Judiciary Committee starts debating an immigration measure March 2, its starting point will be a Feb. 24 proposal from Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.). It has a temporary-worker program to allow foreigners to come to the U.S. for up to six years. They would need proof of employment and have to return home after visas expire. It also requires a federally implemented electronic employment-verification system for employers to use.