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Senators Reach Accord to Consider Immigration Measure (Update1)

May 11 (Bloomberg) -- Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate reached an agreement on how to proceed with consideration of an overhaul of U.S. immigration policies, clearing the path for debate by lawmakers next week.

``Today's agreement is a major step forward,'' Democrat Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts said in a statement. ``I'm optimistic we can get the job done.''

A bipartisan compromise agreement on the legislation collapsed last month after senators couldn't agree on how to consider amendments or negotiate on final legislation with members of the House of Representatives. The agreement announced today settles the disputes, Senate leaders said.

``The procedural aspect of this immigration debate is over with,'' said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.

The proposed legislation would create up to 400,000 guest- worker visas for unskilled workers and provide a path to legal status for many of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican, said today on the Senate floor that 14 Republicans and 12 Democrats will resolve differences between any Senate legislation and the measure passed last year by the House of Representatives.

Twelve of the senators will come from the Senate's Judiciary Committee, a demand made by Reid. The remaining negotiators will be chosen by Frist and Reid.

Frist said the Senate will debate a ``considerable number of amendments'' to the measure. He has said he hopes to complete consideration of the measure before the end of the month.

The House in December approved a measure that cracks down on the hiring of undocumented immigrants and calls for the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the Mexican border, without addressing a guest worker program or legal status for those in the country illegally.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Nicholas Johnston in Washington at njohnston3@bloomberg.net

Bloomberg