Immigration Reform 2013 News: House Democrats to Introduce Immigration Reform Bill Wednesday on the Floor

Determined to keep immigration reform alive, a group of House Democrats are expected to introduce an immigration bill of their own on Wednesday.

Immigration reform hasn't been a priority amongst most congressional members since the Democratic-led Senate passed a sweeping immigration bill in June. However, Democrats are expected to present a new bill on the House floor as a strategy to keep the issue alive and pressure Republican leadership to pass comprehensive immigration legislation this year. 

The immigration bill that passed over the summer stalled in the House late last month as influential Republicans abandoned the effort over disagreements on health care costs. House GOP members also refused to support a comprehensive bill and, instead, pushed to pass a piecemeal series of laws that did not include a pathway to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently residing in the country.

House sources told ABC News that the new Democratic bill will mirror the bipartisan legislation passed by the Senate and include both increased border security and a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers.

However, sources say the bill's supporters expect it to receive predominantly Democratic support and languish in the House without ever coming to a vote, as House Speaker John Boehner has declared he has no plans to bring the bipartisan Senate bill to the House floor.

On Tuesday, bipartisan lawmakers who have worked on immigration expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached on immigration reform in the late fall during a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute panel discussion.

"The No. 1 question people are asking ... is this: Can we get this bill accomplished? And I truly believe we can," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said during the panel of five senators, all who were members of the bipartisan "Gang of Eight."

"If the House passes a bill that is not exactly as good as ours, but has a way for a path to citizenship that is different than what we would propose, but still there, we can get together in conference and pass a bill that will make you all proud," Schumer told the predominantly Latino audience, according to NBC Latino.

In addition, Sen. John McCain, the only Republican participating in the Senate panel, said he has been talking to House members with respect for their views while urging them to get to the conference.