June 26 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Senate revived hopes Congress will enact legislation to overhaul immigration, voting 64-35 to resume debate on President George W. Bush's top domestic priority.

The bipartisan legislation, stalled three weeks ago by a procedural stalemate, would offer legal status to 12 million undocumented aliens and create a guest-worker program to help U.S. employers fill low-paying jobs.

The measure received four more than the 60 votes needed to resume debate. Thirty-nine Democrats, 24 Republicans and Joseph Lieberman, an independent from Connecticut, voted to proceed. The Senate will have to muster 60 votes again to conclude debate before clearing the way for final passage.

``I view this as an historic opportunity for Congress to act,'' Bush told a White House gathering of supporters of the legislation hours before the Senate vote. ``It's an important time to act for the sake of the country.''

All six senators who are running for president voted in favor of resuming debate. They are Joseph Biden of Delaware, Hillary Clinton of New York, Barack Obama of Illinois and Chris Dodd of Connecticut, all Democrats; and Republicans John McCain of Arizona and Sam Brownback of Kansas.

The bill was shelved on June 7 when only seven Republicans voted with 37 Democrats and Lieberman to end debate and move toward final passage. Thirty-eight Republicans, 11 Democrats and Vermont independent Bernie Sanders blocked the measure then by opposing the effort to curtail debate.

Signal to Proceed

Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama said today a vote for letting the debate proceed doesn't necessarily signal support for the legislation.

``Senators haven't fully comprehended yet that the bill does not do what the bill promises to do,'' Sessions said. ``The American people don't want it.''

After the legislation was derailed this month in the Democratic-controlled Senate, supporters negotiated a deal to rescue it by allowing votes on two-dozen amendments. A number of Bush's fellow Republicans have labeled the package amnesty for lawbreakers and are backing changes aimed at stopping illegal border crossings from Mexico.

Bush endorsed a proposal to add $4.4 billion to the bill to improve border security and ease some of those concerns.

Resumption of the debate was opposed today by nine Democrats, 25 Republicans and Sanders.

To contact the reporters on this story: James Rowley in Washington at jarowley@bloomberg.netNicholas Johnston in Washington at njohnston3@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 26, 2007 13:08 EDT