Thread: FAIR IMPORTANT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

House Immigration Subcommittee Overwhelmingly Approves Bill to End the Highly Abused Diversity Visa Lottery!

Earlier this week, we requested phone calls in support of Rep. Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) bill to end the highly abused diversity visa lottery program. Those calls were effective! The House Immigration Subcommittee approved the Security and Fairness Enhancement for America Act (H.R. 1219) today by voice vote, clearing the way for full Judiciary Committee consideration.

Rep. Goodlatte's bill received support from each of the nine Republicans on the subcommittee, including a strong endorsement from Subcommittee Chairman John Hostettler (R-IN). Hostettler said the lottery has attracted immigrants with no personal or professional ties to the United States, and leaves the country vulnerable to terrorists and members of foreign intelligence agencies. Democrat subcommittee members Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) raised objections to the bill, the other three Democrats on the subcommittee were not present. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) voted against the bill. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) had drafted a substitute amendment that would have required the secretary of state to study the program, rather than eliminating it, but left the hearing without offering it or voting on H.R. 1219.

To all who answered our request for phone calls this week, thanks for taking action and getting the job done!

If your House representative is on the Immigration Subcommittee and voted in favor of H.R. 1219, take this opportunity to call his or her office to say thanks. (Don't know the number? Click here to find out.)

Stay tuned…on Monday, we will let you know how you can help further advance this important legislation.

Background:

The diversity visa lottery awards over 50,000 green cards each year based on the luck of the draw with virtually no consideration of the skills, education or other characteristics that might be of value to the United States or the U.S. economy. The program is riddled with fraud, highly abused by illegal aliens, and has been used in the past by would-be terrorists.

The removal of this controversial program will help ensure our nation's security, make the administration of our immigration laws more consistent and fair, and help reduce immigration fraud and opportunism.

H.R. 1219 currently has 39 cosponsors, including seven Democrats. Rep. Goodlatte sponsored similar legislation in the 108th Congress. That bill was approved by the House Judiciary Committee, but never reached the House floor for a vote.






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