Gun control proposals prompted by the Newtown school shootings cleared their first hurdle in the Senate.
"With more than 3/5ths of the senators voting in the affirmative, the motion is agreed to."
The vote opens debate on President Obama's proposal to expand background checks for gun buyers and increase funding for school security.
Earlier in the day, the daughter of school principal Dawn Hochsprung and the sister of teacher Victoria Soto, both murdered in the Newtown massacre, urged lawmakers to move forward with the proposals.
SOUNDBITE: Jillian Soto, sister of shooting victim Victoria Soto saying:
They died protecting the children that they love, and they deserve to have a vote and they deserve to have died for a reason."
Texas Senator John Cornyn was one of 29 Republicans and two Democrats who voted to block a debate on gun control.
SOUNDBITE: Republican Senator John Cornyn Of Texas aaying:
"I am not interested in Congress voting on
