From: Federation for American Immigration Reform <info@fairus.org> Add to Address Book
Date: 2006/07/05 Wed PM 01:17:07 EDT
Subject: FAIR Legislative Update 7-05-2006


Latest News Releases

New Side by Side Comparison of House and Senate Immigration Bills (PDF)
(July 3, 2006)

FAIR's Testimony Regarding the issue of non-citizen voting in U.S. elections and identification requirements
(June 22, 2006)

House Takes Novel Approach to Immigration Bill: They Plan to Listen to the American People
(June 20, 2006)

Top Ten Worst Provisions of the Senate Amnesty Bill
(June 9, 2006)

Check out our Stein Report for the latest immigration news and information!







July 5, 2006


In this update:
Reminder! There is one more Congressional Field Hearing this week in Laredo, TX
House Members Amend Appropriations Bill to Curb Illegal Immigration
House Homeland Security Committee Holds Hearing on Intelligence and Border Security
Recent Floor Statements
Press Release
Reminder! There is one more Congressional Field Hearing this week in Laredo, TX.
DATE: Friday, July 7, 2006
COMMITTEE: House International Relations Subcommittee on
International Terrorism and Nonproliferation
(Chairman, Ed Royce (R-CA))

TOPIC: Border Vulnerabilities and International
Terrorism Part II


TIME: 10:00am CST

WHERE: La Posada Hotel and Suites
1000 Zaragoza Street
Laredo, TX

We STRONGLY URGE you to take your family members, neighbors and friends and attend these hearings!

If you have questions, please contact our field representatives Sandra Gunn (East Coast) 202-531-7521 (sgunn@fairus.org) or Rick Oltman (West Coast) 415-884-9960 (roltman@fairus.org).

Stay tuned for more updates from FAIR on this summer's field hearings.

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House Members Amend Appropriations Bill to Curb Illegal Immigration
On Thursday, June 29, 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Science-State-Justice and Commerce Appropriations bill (H.R. 5672). During floor debate, both Democrats and Republicans successfully offered amendments to H.R. 5672 that sought to secure the country and limit the effects of illegal immigration. Congressman John Barrow (D-GA) offered an amendment that increased funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program by $25 million. The amendment, which passed by voice vote, will help states and localities with the financial burden they incur for incarcerating illegal aliens. Congressman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX) offered an amendment that increased money for the southwest Border Initiative by $10 million. This amendment also passed by voice vote. Congressman John Culberson (R-TX) offered an amendment that would limit federal money under the bill to be used by localities deemed as "sanctuary cities." These cities forbid their police force and other agencies from determining an individual's immigration status. Culberson's amendment also passed by voice vote.

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House Homeland Security Committee Holds Hearing on Intelligence and Border Security
Subcommittee Chairman Rob Simmons (R-CT) held a hearing on June 28, 2006, for the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment. The hearing was held to discuss how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) gathers intelligence and uses it to prevent terrorists from entering the country. Mr. Charles Allen, the Chief Intelligence Officer of Intelligence and Analysis at DHS, stated that DHS takes into account the civil liberties of all people in its intelligence efforts, and believes there is enough harmonization between agencies to flag people of interest at the border. Other witnesses testifying before the Subcommittee said much more work in gathering intelligence needs to be done and agreed that the current amount of funding and number of border patrol agents were not adequate enough to appropriately gather information and protect the borders. Michael Cutler of the Center for Immigration Studies testified that a lot of Homeland Security funding for border security was spent unwisely, for instance on cameras, which cannot actually stop and arrest illegal aliens. He offered suggestions such as the need for stricter requirements for identification including digital photographs and foreign language training for DHS officers.

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Recent Floor Statements
Rep. John Tanner (D-TN) commented on Gop Stall Tactics Could Undermine Border Security (June 29, 2006)
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) commented on Immigration Bill Conference (June 29, 2006)
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) commented on Republican Principles On Immigration (June 28, 2006)
Rep. Jim Cost (D-CA) commented on Keep Immigration Issue Alive (June 28, 2006)
Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) commented on Success With Troops On The Border (June 27, 2006)
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) commented on Opposing Bilingual Ballots (June 27, 2006)
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) commented on Reid-Kennedy Bill Is Not The Answer (June 27, 2006)
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Press Release
New Side By Side Comparison of House and Senate Immigration Bills (PDF) July 3, 2006
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