President Barack Obama is using the bully pulpit to insist that Congress pass legislation overhauling the nation’s immigration system.

Obama will issue that call to Congress when he speaks Thursday in the East Room of the White House.

The president wants Congress to act on immigration before the end of the year, now that the partial government shutdown has ended and a potential default has been temporarily averted.

House Speaker John Boehner (BAY’-nur) says he’s optimistic the House could act on immigration by year’s end. But it’s not certain that Republicans will support the comprehensive approach that Obama is seeking.

The Senate passed a wide-ranging bill in June with bipartisan support, but the measure stalled in the House. Most House Republicans want a piece-by-piece approach.

(AP)