During debate on a prescription drug bill, Senator Sessions (R-AL) introduced an amendment which would have deleted a provision in the bill to allow states to provide health insurance to legal immigrant children and pregnant women. Sessions argued that revoking state health coverage to legal immigrants was a necessary step to prevent illegal immigration. Progressives disagreed with Session's analysis and voted against his amendment on the grounds that it unfairly denied health benefits to immigrants who had entered the country legally. A majority of Senators agreed with the Progressive position and the Sessions amendment was rejected 33-65.