U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY), a member of the bipartisan “Gang of Eight,” has predicted that the comprehensive immigration reform bill recently passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee may receive up to 70 votes when it comes before the full Senate next week. According to Senator Schumer, the legislation will pass in the U.S. Senate by July 4, 2013, paving the way for debate in the U.S. House of Representatives, where lawmakers are already working on an alternate plan that may splinter many of the key provisions currently included in the Senate’s landmark legislation.

The likely showdown between the two chambers of Congress will reflect a variety of factors ranging from partisan ideology to changing demographics. In addition, the current trajectory of S.744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, reflects the Democratic and Republican Parties’ distinct approaches to grappling with an issue that impacts millions of foreign nationals currently residing in the United States, as well as employers across a spectrum of industries. Reflecting this dichotomy, Senator Schumer urged his colleagues to pass the comprehensive immigration bill “because we believe in a bipartisan way this is so vital for America,” while House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) advocated a “step-by-step approach” to fixing the nation’s long-broken immigration system.