FAIR: Legislative Update 5/2/05
Feet to the Fire A Big Success!
Last week's Feet to the Fire National Drive for Immigration Reform was a huge success! Nearly 500 activists from across the nation came to Washington, D.C. to lobby their elected official in person and demand Congress do more to make immigration reform a top priority for our nation's future. All House and Senate offices were visited, many multiple times. Our dedicated at-home lobbyists helped reinforce the people on the ground by making countless phone calls and sending well over 6,000 messages to Congress.
FAIR hosted a press conference and reception on Capitol Hill with dozens of members of Congress and Hill staffers in attendance.
Talk radio row, led by talk radio host Roger Hedgecock, launched the immigration reform issue into radio airwaves across the nation! Eighteen talk radio hosts broadcasted live from Washington, D.C. and others who couldn't make it to Washington participated from their stations back home. Five senators and 15 representatives came to talk radio row to be interviewed about their position on immigration (see list below.)
Senators:
George Allen, VA
Rick Santorum, PA
Arlen Specter, PA
Jon Kyl, AZ
Zell Miller, GA
Representatives:
J.D. Hayworth, AZ
Phil Gingrey, GA
John Sullivan, OK
Marsh Blackburn, TN
Gary Miller, CA
Ed, Royce, CA
Dana Rohrabacher, CA
Tim Ryan, OH
Ted Strickland, OH
Lamar Smith, TX
Sam Graves, MO
Darrell Issa, CA
Mike Conoway, TX
Scott Garrett, NJ
Tom Tancredo, CO
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Conferees Continue Work on REAL ID, House Vote Expected Wednesday
House and Senate conferees continue work on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act this week. A House vote on the final conference agreement is expected as soon as Wednesday. The Senate will likely follow suit next week upon returning from recess.
Our Capitol Hill team reports that only modest changes were made to the REAL ID provisions. This represents a major victory for preventing illegal aliens and the terrorist among them from getting state driver's licenses!
At this point it isn't clear how an amendment by Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) will be resolved. The Byrd amendment provides an extra $390 million for border security and would allow the hiring of 650 new border patrol agents.
We will keep you posted as the situation warrants.
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Rep. Graves Reintroduces Bill to Reduce Immigration Workload
On April 27, Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) reintroduced his Emergency Immigration Workload Reduction and Homeland Security Enhancement Act of 2005 (H.R. 1912).
This legislation would suspend certain nonessential visas in order to provide temporary workload relief critical to the success of the immigration component of the Department of Homeland Security. It would require certain conditions be met before these suspensions are lifted to ensure the department's ability to carry out its immigration enforcement responsibilities.
The workload relief provided by this legislation is essential to getting our immigration system under control and vital to protecting the homeland.
Click here for more details and to urge your representative to cosponsor H.R. 1912.
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Rep. Paul Introduces Citizenship Reform Amendment
On April 28, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced a constitutional amendment (H.J.RES.46) to deny United States citizenship to individuals born in the U.S. to parents who are not U.S. citizens or permanent legal residents at the time of birth.
If enacted, this would remove one of the major incentives for illegal immigration by ending the practice of granting automatic U.S. citizenship to the children of illegal aliens.
Visit our web site to learn more and to urge your representatives to cosponsor H.J.RES.46.
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New Cosponsors of Key Bills
The following members signed on to key bills (both good and bad) this past week. Click on the bill numbers to learn more about the legislation and to send FREE faxed messages for or against these bills to your legislators. If your legislators are listed below, please follow your faxes up with phone calls to thank them or to urge them to withdraw their support.
Thank these members for supporting good reform legislation!
H.R. 1219 - Legislation to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Lottery Program
Rep. John Linder (R-GA)
Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA)
Urge these members to reconsider their support for these dangerous bills.
H.R. 884 - The Agricultural Job, Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act of 2005 (AgJOBS)
Rep. George Miller (D-CA)
Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI)
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Recent Floor Statements:
On April 28, Rep. Charles Norwood (R-GA) commented on The Clear Act Of 2005 and The Minutemen.
On April 27, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) commented on Supporting The Minuteman Project.
On April 27, Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) commented on The First 100 Days Of The 109th Congress.
On April 27, Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) commented on The Minutemen Project.
On April 27, Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) commented on the Emergency Immigration Workload Reduction and Homeland Security Enhancement Act Of 2005.
On April 27, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) commented on Real Solutions For Immigration Policy.
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New from FAIR!
Minuteman Effort Serves as a Warning (April 26, 2005)
FAIR and House Immigration Reform Caucus Members Urge Senate to Include Real ID Act in War Supplemental as Vital National Security Measure(April 26, 2005)
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Upcoming Events:
SIGN UP TODAY for FAIR's May 7 Southern Midwest Immigration Summit in Nashville, TN! Visit our web site for details.
The House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims will hold an oversight hearing on Immigrant Workers and U.S. Job Growth. The hearing, "New Jobs in Recession and Recovery: Who are Getting Them and Who are Not?" will focus on findings that immigrant workers account for all the net job growth that the economy has experienced over the last few years. When and Where: May 4, 10:00 a.m., 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.
The House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims will hold an oversight hearing on the new "dual missions" of the immigration enforcement agencies. When and Where: May 5, 2:30 p.m., 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.
