But the already drawn out process will only take more twists and turns before the possibility of eventual passage and there are important things to know about where comprehensive immigration reform stands right now.

The Senate Will Pass the Immigration Bill — Probably

Many have taken it as a foregone conclusion that the Senate will quickly pass the immigration bill now that the Senate Judiciary Committee has approved it, but Senator Landrieu, who chairs the Senate Small Business Committee, said not so fast.

“At some point, you’ve got to close the deal but we’re not anywhere near closing that deal. We’ve got to go through a process on the floor,” Landrieu said to Reuters.

Sylvia Manzano, a political scientist with polling firm Latino Decisions says the bill will pass with more than 60 out of 100 votes, so better than along party lines. “Senators are responsive to a more moderate public, while members of the House have much more political latitude to be contrary,” she says.

The House May Take A Piecemeal Approach

While senator and “Gang of 8″ member Chuck Schumer  has said a piecemeal approach to immigration reform would be inadequate, the idea of passing smaller bills and leaving contentious parts of reform like a pathway to citizenship off the table for now, appeals to many House members.

“Congressman Goodlatte has introduced and moved small bills,” says Angela Kelley, of the center-left Center for American Progress. “They may just move pieces of immigration reform especially on the border enforcement part.”

Manzano says while this may anger some, it makes sense for many House members.

“They may say we will pass a DREAM Act but we’re not going to do this other stuff,” she says.

After Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor released a statement saying the House will move forward with its own version of immigration reform, Kelley says it’s because the House immigration negotiators have been struggling to come to bipartisan consensus.

“The House is in flux, the House Gang of 8,” she says. “It’s like a Taylor Swift song — they make up, they break up, but they’re clearly trying to overcome hurdles.”

RELATED: Mixed-status families, DREAMers tell Obama their personal immigration stories

Health Care for Undocumented Immigrants is a Major Sticking Point in the House

The comments from Rep. Raul Labrador, a member of the House Gang of 8 were notable for their intensity.

“What might be the story at the end of this year, at the end of this session, is that Obamacare killed immigration reform,” Labrador said Wednesday. At issue is whether undocumented immigrants on a pathway to citizenship would be eligible for health care subsidies from the affordable care act. House Republicans are vehemently against the idea and proposed language that Rep. Xavier Becerra, also a House immigration negotiator, said he could not support. 

Kelley says that like the high-profile issue of immigration benefits for same-sex partners, which didn’t make it into the Senate bill, health care issues are immensely important, but not something that will get enough support if it would stop comprehensive immigration reform. “We’re talking about human beings who get sick or get hit by buses,” she says. “But in the immigration debate, as much as I want to, we can’t take on all the existing challenges.”

Manzano says the mere existence of the debate creates a successful stereotype.

“It’s presumptuous that these people would not get health care from employers,” she says. “It’s a successful stereotype that all of these undocumented immigrants are going to be a huge burden.”

She says the debate is grounded in party politics.

“It’s more of a political tool for Republicans,” she says. “If they use the magic word Obamacare — as a party, you’re supposed to vote no.”

Differences Will Have to be Settled in Conference Committees

The Senate will do much of their work before the July 4 recess, which means that by July the House leadership will have clarity on how its caucus is reacting to what has been drawn up by the Senate, Kelley says.

That’s when conference committees, made up of Senate and House members would come together to “look at the totality of legislation before them,” she says.

“We know more about conference committees from civic lessons because it hasn’t happened all that often,” Kelley adds. “Both chambers will have to dust off government books to figure out how to do that.”

Final Immigration Reform Timetable: End of Summer? Fall?

In an exclusive interview with Telemundo in March, President Obama said immigration reform should get done by the end of summer. But Kelley says it doesn’t look likely with an August recess and conference committees likely. She says a much more likely target is sometime in the Fall and while she says immigration reform will happen, the timing won’t necessarily be music to the ears of advocates who wants passage as soon as possible.

“It will definitely get done before the end of 2013,” she says.

RELATED: iMarch for immigration reform launches with high-profile backers and social media prodding

Corbett has received criticism after comments he made last week made it onto YouTube.

He was asked by a moderator at the Philadelphia forum hosted by the Spanish-language newspaper Al Dia if he has any staff members that are Latino.

“No, we do not have any staff members in there,” he said. “If you can find us one, please let me know.” The moderator responded, ”I am sure that there are Latinos that…” before being cut off.

“Do any of you want to come to Harrisburg? See?” Corbett remarked.

Governor Tom Corbett’s spokesman, Kevin Harley, released a statement today regarding the governor’s comments, claiming this was the second time Think Progress, a liberal blog, took the governor’s statements out of context, adding:

“This is just another attempt by a liberal blog in Washington D.C. to malign the governor by taking comments out of context made during an hour-long interview with ‘Al Dia’ newspaper, based in Philadelphia.’’

On social media, some were surprised by the governor’s interview.

Wheres his Binders Full of Latinos “@tusk81: Corbett on no Latinos on staff: “If you can find us 1, pls let me know” thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/…”

— Omeed Firouzi (@OmeedFirouzi) May 22, 2013

Wow. RT @tusk81: PA Governor Corbett on why he has no Latinos on staff: “If you can find us one, pls let me know.” thinkprogress.org/politics/2013/…

— Latino Policy Forum (@latinopolicy) May 22, 2013

In response, the governor’s spokesperson pointed out in a statement sent to NBCLatino, “the facts are that Corbett has appointed numerous Latino-Hispanics in his administration cabinet, including Dr. Eli Avila, who served as Secretary of the Department of Health, as well as boards and commissions.”

When Hispanic Heritage Month began in 2012, Corbett said, “I commend the many social and economic contributions of Latino-Hispanics in our state and celebrate the rich and diverse culture of Pennsylvania’s fasting growing minority group,” noting that Pennsylvania’s 800,000 Latino residents represent approximately 6.8 percent of the overall population, Think Progress reports.

Immigration reform has to get done.

That’s why Murdoch and Bloomberg joined together to create The March for Innovation, or iMarch, an online forum that includes Twitter town halls and pressure from citizens through social media to get politicians to hear their voices in support of immigration reform. The president’s campaign apparatus, reconfigured as Organizing for Action, is supporting iMarch as well as the former California governor.

Supporters took to Twitter Wednesday to announce the launch of iMarch.

RT if you agree: This is not just a debate about policy—it’s about people. #iMarch #ImmigrationNation, twitter.com/whitehouse/sta…

— The White House (@whitehouse) May 22, 2013

— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) May 22, 2013

This is my first-ever Vine message. Here’s some reasons I support comprehensive immigration reform: vine.co/v/b9wYdjXi7Pn #iMarch

— Senator Harry Reid (@SenatorReid) May 22, 2013

Be part of this historic movement and join the virtual march for immigration reform. #imarch #immigration twitter.com/luisfortuno51/…

— Luis Fortuño (@luisfortuno51) May 22, 2013

Immigration reform has seen a largely bipartisan push as the so-called Gang of 8 senators crafted legislation that was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and now heads to a vote from the full Senate.

Asked why immigration reform is seeing a push that has even surpassed the McCain-Kennedy effort from 2007, longtime reform supporter Rep. Luis Gutierrez says the reason is clear.

RELATED: Analysis: Can the House torpedo immigration reform?

“November 6th — there was an election — and clearly there was a mandate of the people and the Congress, unlike on guns and when it comes to the budget and unlike so many other issues, is being responsive,” Gutierrez said on HuffPost Live, Wednesday.

AOL co-founder Steve Case, who has testified in front of Congress as well as Steve Jobs’ widow also added to the chorus of politicians pushing for reform on Twitter.

MY VIEW: Don’t Let Top Talent Leave the U.S. on.mash.to/12ui8RO #Immigration Join us! #iMarch And please RT!

— Steve Case (@SteveCase) May 22, 2013

Jose Antonio Vargas, a journalist who came out as undocumented in a New York Times article, and has emerged as a passionate advocate for immigration reform, announced that he will use Reddit’s popular “Ask me anything” feature to bring attention to iMarch.

I’m doing @reddit #AMA at 4p ET for #Marchforinnov. Come and ask hard questions about #immigration and @defineamerican #iMarch

— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) May 22, 2013

Creators of the iMarch campaign are banking on Americans to use social media to pressure politicians to support reform and as of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 12,000 “actions” had been taken on Facebook and Twitter to push for immigration reform.

“It’s anybody’s guess to what’s going to happen in terms of sequence,” says Ricardo Ramirez, professor of political science at Notre Dame University. “House Republicans will have their own bill, the question is, is there enough interest in the Senate bill?”

Ramirez says the Senate bill going through the House will be a tall order. He says many Republicans will have to embrace the strategy of someone like former vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, whose district isn’t impacted by immigration but who could face opposition if he were to represent Republicans again in a future primary election. Despite this, Ryan has come out in support of immigration reform.

There is also the issue of whether the Senate bill has any chance in the House at all after Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), who is among the eight immigration negotiators in the chamber, called the legislation “dead on arrival.”

Stanford University professor and Latino Decisions principal Gary Segura says the Senate bill still has life.

“It’s not the case that its dead on arrival,” he says. “A bipartisan House framework has been negotiated. The truth is both bills will be very similar,” he added, admitting that there will be fights and conference committees created to solve disputes between both bodies.

RELATED: Senate committee votes “yes” on comprehensive immigration reform, on to Senate floor

Segura says the House will be looking to define the path to citizenship and the accelerated Dreamer timetable, low-skilled guest worker policies, high-skilled worker rules, as well as e-verify employer enforcement and border security. All of these aspects are part of the Senate legislation he says, and the details will be haggled over.

Segura says the true obstacle to immigration reform in the House would have been the Hastert rule, which says no piece of legislation will be brought to the floor that does not command a majority of the majority.

“Boehner has abandoned it and under the current House majority the path to citizenship would not command the majority of Republican votes,” he says. “He’s violated it on a number of different occasions, so the sanctity of that position is nowhere near what it once was.”

An issue dividing the House was brought up by Democratic leadership on Monday, who expressed concern about language in a proposal meant to ensure that the government doesn’t pay for the health care of the 11 million undocumented immigrants on the path to citizenship.

“Folks in the Senate will soften on some of the language,” Notre Dame’s Ramirez says. “They may be OK with a waiting period regarding health care, but on the whole they will not be OK with ‘unless you are a full legal resident you won’t get health care.’ It would weaken some aspects of Obamacare and once you start excluding some people, it leaves open the possibility of excluding others.”

Segura says the motivations for a pivot on health care concerns are clear.

“It’s about allowing the immigration issue to get tied up in the Obamacare obsession on the GOP side of the aisle,” he says, adding that Democrats will likely lose on undocumented immigrants getting health care subsidies.

Both agree that passing comprehensive immigration reform through the house will require some cajoling by Republicans in favor of the legislation of GOP members who are on the fence. “It will be about to what extent Republicans lean on other Republicans, and Senators influence House members,” Ramirez says.

“You don’t have to move many, you just have to move enough that Boehner can bring the bill to the floor without facing revolution,” Segura adds.

RELATED: Mixed-status families, DREAMers tell Obama their personal immigration stories

An idea was spurred when a former Oklahoma resident living in Chicago called asking if he could pay for $50 worth of food to be given out. Diosdado decided to make it $200 and send lunch to volunteers who mobilized in the area.

“During times like this, it’s the right thing to do,” he says. “A lot of people lost their houses, people are struggling and the weather isn’t helping,” he added, as a downpour began outside his store.

Our team just bought lunch for volunteers in Moore, Oklahoma. We want to thank Luis @jimmyjohns in Norman for making it happen!

— Steve Weber (@WillTreasurer) May 21, 2013

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma medical examiner revised its number of casualties down to 24 from 51, which had been reported earlier. More than 140 are injured and the actual figures will likely rise.

RELATED: Oklahoma tornado survivor: the sound “was horrible”

Patricia Rojas from the Red Cross says the sheer devastation made it necessary for organizations and volunteers to rush to Moore.

“We mobilized 30 emergency response vehicles, volunteers and opened shelters in Moore,” Rojas says.

The Red Cross is encouraging people who are safe to register as “safe and well” at RedCross.org/safeandwell.

Homes in Moore. Just a few of many. You can help these families by donating at redcross.org #okwx #moore twitter.com/redcrossokc/st…

— Red Cross Oklahoma (@redcrossokc) May 21, 2013

While Rojas says the Red Cross had some shelters in place ahead of the tornado because of storm warnings, destruction of this magnitude was not expected.

“No one was prepared for something like this,” she says. “This is one of the most devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma history.”

That’s why Diosdado from Jimmy John’s, like many others, just wanted to be of service. He says he may be able to do more but is just waiting on the go ahead.

“We’re a franchise so if we get the green light, there’s a lot more we can do,” he says. “It’s just making sandwiches. But it’s something simple that can go a long way.”

We will continue efforts throughout the night and will update as needed. Oklahoma, you inspire us as we face this tragedy side-by-side.

— Red Cross Oklahoma (@redcrossokc) May 21, 2013

“We are deeply concerned with the academic integrity and the reputation of Harvard Kennedy School and the University as a whole,” the petition began. “Central to his claim is the idea that certain groups are genetically predisposed to be more intelligent than others. In his troubling worldview Asians are generally at the  top, with whites in the middle, Hispanics follow, and African-Americans [are] at the bottom,” it continued.

The petition was presented to Harvard Kennedy School Dean David T. Ellwood, who released a statement to NBC Latino.

“I most certainly understand that this issue, as reported, troubles many people,” Ellwood said. “First, the views and conclusions of any graduate of this school are theirs alone, and do not represent the views of Harvard or the Kennedy School.  Second, all Ph.D. dissertations are reviewed by a committee of scholars.”

RELATED: Jason Richwine on Hispanic IQ comments: “I don’t apologize for any of the things that I said”

He added that the committee consisted of three highly respected and discerning faculty members who come from diverse intellectual traditions.

“Finally and most importantly, it is vital that an active and open debate of ideas occur in Universities and beyond them,” he continued. “Scholars and others who disagree with particular ideas or methods or who are unhappy with conclusions can and must openly engage in reasoned discussion and criticism, after looking fully and carefully at the work.  It is through ongoing vigorous give and take that good ideas will ultimately emerge and weaker ones can be displaced.”

NBC Latino has repeatedly reached out to Richwine for comment on the reaction to his dissertation but has not received a response.

According to the Boston Globe, Richwine took issue with the student petition. “I wonder what thoughts they would seek to ban in the future,’’ he said. “This is a really worrisome idea here, that the students want to dictate what scholarship will be allowed at Harvard University.”

Fernando Berdion Del Valle, a student spokesman for the petition and Kennedy School masters candidate in public policy, said that as a son of two Hispanic immigrants, he was angered by the dissertation.

“For me, it was important to get involved in this effort because this issue affects all of us,” he said. “It’s not just about Hispanics or Latinos. It’s about all Americans who believe that research can be open, academically rigorous, and ethically sound.”

Berdion Del Valle said it’s important to remember  that research funded and approved by Harvard has an impact on real-world policies.

“If Harvard doesn’t apply rigorous academic standards for its research, how can we guarantee our policy discussions are not affected by irresponsible scholarship?”

RELATED: Heritage immigration study co-author: Hispanics will have low-IQ children and grandchildren

“Yahoo has a very recent history of mismanagement, and I think it’s a pretty typical case of a dying brand buying a ‘cooler’ one to revive itself,” said Tumblr user Abel Iraola, who works in Congress.

“If they play it like Google with YouTube and make changes gradually, this is a partnership that could work out; if Yahoo goes all out to monetize Tumblr, adding ads, charging a premium for certain features, and going out of its way to block gifs, clips, and music for legal purposes (which form the backbone of the community), then it will find itself undergoing an exodus very fast.”

In a statement posted to her own Tumblr blog, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer said Yahoo isn’t looking to wield a heavy hand. “We promise not to screw it up,” she wrote. “Tumblr is incredibly special and has a great thing going.  We will operate Tumblr independently.  David Karp will remain CEO.  The product roadmap, their team, their wit and irreverence will all remain the same as will their mission to empower creators to make their best work and get it in front of the audience they deserve.”

RELATED: Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg unveils pro-immigration advocacy group

Dee Trillo, a fashion blogger who uses Yahoo and Tumblr, says the partnership can be beneficial for both, because Yahoo will use its resources to help expedite improvements to the Tumblr interface while Yahoo will be able to reinvent itself in the social media space.

“They have been the outcast and this might be their chance to target a major audience via a powerful player as Tumblr,” she says.

Monica Vila, The Online Mom founder and NBC Latino contributor, says the move is a great one for Yahoo.

“When I first heard about this acquisition – I thought it was a brilliant business move on the part of Yahoo,” she says. “For a while and more since Marissa Mayer took over the helm – I couldn’t help but think that its aging community was a giant threat to its growth. Tumblr brings millennials and an increasingly savvy mobile user base – both of which are so important to the future of Yahoo.”

Karla Campos, who runs a social media marketing agency, says that as  Tumblr user, she thinks the acquisition will be OK as long as Yahoo doesn’t overreach.

“I think it is a good thing that Yahoo purchased Tumblr, hopefully they don’t start messing too much with the interface,” she says. “I think they should leave the user experience as is but add features. The article I read talked about new advertising opportunities that will develop with the buy which I think is good because people are always looking for ways to monetize their blogs.”

Jessie Nuez, a tech blogger and founder of The Wired Family, says too many people have been hitting Yahoo’s Mayer, formerly of Google, when they should be looking at what she brings to the table.

“I think people need to separate Marissa Mayer from Yahoo and see what she has accomplished in her career. As a former product manager, Marissa Mayer knows what it takes to create, build and grow a successful product and drive individuals to create their best work; just look at all that she accomplished at Google,” she says.

“Yahoo isn’t dead, it has lost its way and needs someone to steer them in the direction of continued success,” she adds.

RELATED: Bill Gates takes back World’s Richest Man title from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim

This is terrible news for all infants and their parents, it promises to place an extra burden on medically underserved communities, including Latino families.

RSV is a common respiratory virus—nearly all children contract RSV by the time they turn two.  Usually, RSV causes mild-to-moderate cold-like symptoms.  But in premature infants it can cause severe RSV disease, the most common cause of hospitalization for children under one year of age in the United States.

Instead of basing it s recommendations on clinical data and science, AAP lowered the maximum time for treatment for babies suffering from RSV from five months to three, with no clinical evidence to support such a reduction in care.  The AAP reaffirmed the guidelines last year and has claimed that its goal was “to ensure optimal balance of benefit and cost.”

The problem, of course, is that the cheaper medicines, drugs, and treatments are not always the most effective in the short term—let alone the long-term.

It is important to point out that the thinking behind AAP’s ‘cost-cutting’ focus will eventually affect all American families.  After all, a key premise of Obamacare is that lower overall health care costs can result from transferring power from doctors and patients to a vast network of government bureaucracies, advisory boards, and commissions that will cut care and treatment to patients, either outright or by issuing ‘recommendations’ for the rationing of health care.

The American Academy of Pediatric decision to limit RSV treatments for premature babies mirrors Obamacare’s alarming and counterproductive health care model.

For Latinos, research shows that several factors that place children at higher risk of RSV are disproportionately present in our communities.  And the most recent available report (2008) from the Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics, shows that 12.1 percent of Hispanic babies are born prematurely, a rate higher than that of non-Hispanic whites.

The most recent available report (2008) from the Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics, shows that 12.1 percent of Hispanic babies are born prematurely, a rate higher than that of non-Hispanic whites.  Several other factors that place children at higher risk of RSV are disproportionately present in Hispanic communities.

To be sure, cutting medically appropriate and preventive care is a losing proposition for all Americans.  Premature babies with RSV are highly susceptible to a variety of complications that lead to hospitalization.  Premature infants account for nearly half of the hospital charges for all infants (or a total of $5.8 billion per year).  The average charge for the most severe hospital stays is $65,600 for premature newborns compared to $600 for an uncomplicated newborn stay.  None of this takes into account health problems in premature births that can persist for years.

Finally, a report by the March of Dimes shows that the total economic cost (medical, educational, and lost productivity) associated with preterm birth in the United States was at least $26.2 billion (or $51,600 per preterm infant) in 2005 (the most recent data available).

All of this demonstrates the tragedy of analyzing medical treatments exclusively through the short-term prism of costs—a central dynamic of our newly cast health care system.  The only way out is for lawmakers to listen to the American people and replace Obamacare with proven measures that put patient interests first and rely on sound science and clinical evidence.

Our great nation should strive to provide the highest quality health care for all Americans, including of course the 500,000 babies who are born prematurely every year.  How we treat them reflects our basic human values, and foreshadows the disastrous health care rationing that undoubtedly awaits all Americans under Obamacare.

Mario H. Lopez is the president of the Hispanic Leadership Fund, a national advocacy organization that promotes free enterprise, limited government, and individual liberty.

This is therapy in a newborn intensive care unit, and research suggests that music may help those born way too soon adapt to life outside the womb.

Some tiny preemies are too small and fragile to be held and comforted by human touch, and many are often fussy and show other signs of stress. Other common complications include immature lungs, eye disease, problems with sucking, and sleeping and alertness difficulties.

Recent studies and anecdotal reports suggest the vibrations and soothing rhythms of music, especially performed live in the hospital, might benefit preemies and other sick babies.

Many insurers won’t pay for music therapy because of doubts that it results in any lasting medical improvement. Some doctors say the music works best at relieving babies’ stress and helping parents bond with infants too sick to go home.

RELATED: Why Jennifer Lopez says motherhood has inspired her “perspective on the world”

But amid beeping monitors, IV poles and plastic breathing tubes in infants’ rooms at Chicago’s Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, music therapist Elizabeth Klinger provides a soothing contrast that even the tiniest babies seem to notice

“What music therapy can uniquely provide is that passive listening experience that just encourages relaxation for the patient, encourages participation by the family,” Klinger said after a recent session in Augustin’s hospital room.

The baby’s parents, Lucy Morales and Alejandro Moran, stood at the crib and whispered lovingly to their son as Klinger played traditional lullabies, singing in Spanish and English.

“The music relaxes him, it makes him feel more calm” and helps him sleep better too, Lucy Morales said. “Sometimes it makes us cry.”

Some families request rock music or other high-tempo songs, but Klinger always slows the beat to make it easier on tender ears.

“A lot of times families become afraid of interacting with their children because they are so sick and so frail, and music provides them something that they can still do,” Klinger said, who works full time as a music therapist but her services are provided for free.

Music therapists say live performances in hospitals are better than recorded music because patients can feel the music vibrations and also benefit from seeing the musicians.

More than two dozen U.S. hospitals offer music therapy in their newborn intensive care units and its popularity is growing, said Joanne Loewy, a music therapist who directs a music and medicine program at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.

RELATED: Disney launches princess-inspired quinceañera gowns

Preemies’ music therapy was even featured on a recent episode of the hit TV show “American Idol,” when show finalist Kree Harrison watched a therapist working with a tiny baby at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

“Music is such a huge part of our lives and to do something like this, make it a sort of healing process, is a cool thing,” Harrison said on the April 25 episode.

Dr. Natalia Henner, a newborn specialist at Lurie hospital, said studies in nursing journals show music therapy for preemies “does help with promoting growth. And there’s some good literature … saying that the time to discharge is a little bit shorter in babies who’ve been exposed to more music therapy.”

She said it “definitely facilitates bonding” between parents of preemies and other babies too sick to go home.

Loewy led a study published last month in the journal Pediatrics, involving 11 U.S. hospitals. Therapists in the study played special small drums to mimic womb sounds and timed the rhythm to match the infants’ heartbeats. The music appeared to slow the infants’ heartbeats, calm their breathing, and improve sucking and sleeping, Loewy said.

Soozie Cotter-Schaufele, a music therapist at Advocate Children’s Hospital-Park Ridge near Chicago, says soothing rhythmic sounds of music can mimic womb sounds and provide a comforting environment for preemies. She sings and plays a small harp or guitar, and says the sounds help calm tiny babies while they’re undergoing painful medical procedures.

Cotter-Schaufele said she recently heard from a woman whose daughter was born prematurely at her hospital six years ago. She had played the 1960s folk song “Today” for the infant.

The mother reported her daughter “‘still loves that song,” She said ‘She didn’t learn that song from me, she learned it from you,’” Cotter-Schaufele said.

RELATED: Shakira confirms she’s leaving “The Voice”: ‘My poor baby is so tired of flying’

Gates’ fortune stands at a staggering $72.7 billion, according to the updated Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Slim, 73, now worth $72.1 billion, saw his wealth drop after Mexico’s Congress passed a bill that hit his company, America Movil, the largest mobile-phone operator in the Americas. The company has dropped 14 percent this year, helping erase more than $3 billion from the tycoon’s net worth, according to Bloomberg.

RELATED: World’s richest man, Carlos Slim, teams up with Larry King on internet TV venture

“When they’re talking about reform in a country that’s generally poor, and the guy shows up No. 1 on the list — not a good thing,” Greg Lesko, managing director at New-York-based Deltec Asset Management LLC, told Bloomberg. “He’s had a pretty good monopoly situation in Mexico, and the Mexican cellphone user has been paying more than he should. We applaud it for the country.”

Slim also maintains holdings in banking (Inbursa) and mining (Minera Frisco), as well as Philip Morris, New York Times, Saks, Caixabank and Grupo Carso of the Mexican construction industry. He was the World’s Richest Man for the last four years, according to Forbes’ billionaires list.

Gates, who last held the distinction in 2007, saw his fortune rise 16 percent after Microsoft’s shares climbed 28 percent in 2013, adding $10 billion to his wealth, the LA Times reports.

But the back and forth between the two men for World’s Richest leaves out one important fact. Gates has gifted $28 billion to his foundation.

RELATED: Forbes Most Powerful: Carlos Slim, Hugo Chavez, Enrique Peña Nieto make the list