DR-CAFTA, the legislation required to push the Dominican Republic into the Central American Free Trade Agreement and open the doors for reciprocal free trade with the United States passed its vote in the Dominican Senate by a vote of 27 yeas, no nays and two abstentions. The PRD-dominated Senate took their vote after senator Ramon Alburquerque, also the PRD party president, urged passage emphasizing the difficulties that would befall the nation if the Senate acted to the contrary. After the legislation was approved, United States ambassador Hans Hertell visited the senators and congratulated them in the name of his government. Hertell called the event “an historic moment.” He said, “The Dominican Republic has taken an important historical step with the ratification of the piece of legislation which will be of great benefit to both nations.”The Chamber of Deputies still needs to pass the document, but political observers say the vote in the Senate was more difficult than the one of the Chamber of Deputies.