Thread: FAIR Legislative Update 9-11-06

From: Federation for American Immigration Reform Date: 2006/09/11 Mon PM 04:07:59 EDT
Subject: FAIR Legislative Update 9-11-2006

Latest News Releases

Issue Paper: Wages of Agricultural Workers
(September 7, 2006)

Homeland Security Held Hostage: New Report on Terrorism and Immigration Five Years after 9/11(September 6, 2006)

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

September 11, 2006

We honor and remember those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on this day, Sept. 11, 2001. We pledge to continue fighting to reform the system that allowed terrorists to enter the country, remain here, and obtain fraudulent documents and real driver's licenses to perpetrate these horrendous attacks.


In this update:
House Republicans to Hold a Border Security Forum
Frist Calls the Senate Guest Worker Amnesty Dead for this Congress
Mexican President-Elect Calderon Vows to Fight for Amnesty
Michigan State House Wants Congress to Exclude Noncitizens from Congressional Reapportionment
New Cosponsors of Key Bills
Recent Floor Statements
Press Releases
Upcoming Events
House Republicans to Hold a Border Security Forum
On Tuesday, September 12, 2006, House Republican Leadership plans to hold a forum to discuss information gathered during the immigration field hearings held throughout August. Chairmen and subcommittee chairmen will serve as witnesses presenting what they learned from the 22 different hearings. The forum will begin the process of discussing specific provisions for a border security package that could be on the House Floor as early as the week of September 18th. "We found through these hearings that every state is a border state, and almost every city is a border city," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) at a press conference last week. The Republican Leadership of the House hopes the continued focus on border security and the possible passage of another security bill will please the GOP base this fall.

Back to top

Frist Calls the Senate Guest Worker Amnesty Dead for this Congress
Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has acknowledged that the Senate guest worker amnesty bill, which passed the chamber in May with the backing of President Bush, is dead. According to the Washington Post, the Majority Leader is now discussing the possibility that the Senate appropriate additional money toward securing the U.S.-Mexico border before adjourning for the November elections. This move, Frist hopes, will lessen the public anger over the current immigration crisis that includes porous borders and 12 million illegal aliens residing in the country. Senator Frist's comments also appear to parallel last week's announcement by House Leadership that it intends to increase appropriations for border security before members leave at the end of the month.

Back to top

Mexican President-Elect Calderon Vows to Fight for Amnesty
While a guest worker amnesty bill may be on the Congressional back burner for the time being, the Washington Post reports that Mexican President-elect Felipe Calderon is committed to working closely with President Bush to implement an amnesty. "We will work intensely over the next two years to arrive at a concrete agreement," said Calderon. Some have argued that one of the biggest failures of President Fox's term was his inability to secure legal status for the estimated 6 million Mexicans currently in the United States illegally.

Back to top

Michigan State House Wants Congress to Exclude Noncitizens from Congressional Reapportionment
Last week the Michigan House of Representatives passed a resolution calling for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require only counting citizens when Congressional seats are apportioned for each state. This resolution aims to reverse the current effect illegal aliens have on the distribution of Congressional seats. Supporters of the resolution argue that Michigan lost one congressional seat in 2000 because its population size has not been able to compete with states such as California due in part to illegal immigration. The Michigan Senate passed a similar resolution last May. Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI) is sponsoring the constitutional amendment in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Back to top

New Cosponsors of Key Bills
The following members signed on to good immigration legislation this past week. If your legislators are listed, please use the phone numbers provided to thank them for supporting good legislation. Follow the links below to learn more about these bills.

Thank these members for supporting good reform legislation!

H.RES. 20 - House Resolution Disapproving of the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement

Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) (202) 225-3465
H.R. 98 - Illegal Immigration Enforcement and Social Security Protection Act of 2005

Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN) (202) 225-3271
Rep. Randy Kuhl (R-NY) (202) 225-3161
Back to top

Recent Floor Statements
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) commented on ``Heigh-Ho Silver''--And The Border (September 7, 2006)
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) commented on Border Protection And Security Now (September 7, 2006)
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) commented on No Amnesty For Illegal Aliens (September 7, 2006)
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) commented on Immigration Reform (September 6, 2006)
Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) commented on Need For Employer Sanctions (September 6, 2006)
Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) commented on Banks And Illegals (September 6, 2006)
Rep. John Carter (R-TX) commented on National Security (September 6, 2006)
Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY) commented on Issues Facing America (September 5, 2006)
Back to top

Press Releases
Issue Paper: Wages of Agricultural Workers (September 7, 2006)
Homeland Security Held Hostage: New Report on Terrorism and Immigration Five Years after 9/11 (September 6, 2006)
Back to top

Upcoming Events
Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on "NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) at Year Twelve."
When/Where: September 11, 2:00PM, 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
House Republican Policy Committee/Chairman Adam Putnam (R-FL 12) will host a public forum to hear testimony from Committee and Subcommittee Chairmen who held immigration field hearings during the month of August.
When/Where: Tuesday, September 12, 2:00PM, 210 Cannon House Office Building
House Science Committee Border Security Technology will hold a hearing on "How Can Technologies Help Secure Our Borders?"
When/Where: September 13, 10:00AM, 2318 Rayburn House Office Building.
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on "Employment-Based Permanent Immigration: Examining the Value of a Skills Based Point System."
When/Where: September 14, 10:30AM, 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Please forward this message to friends and email lists.
Not on our action alert list? Click here to subscribe.
For breaking immigration news, visit the Stein Report.
Fax your legislators for free from MyFAIR Plan Action Center.
Support our work! We depend on contributions from people like you.