Thread: FAIR September Newsletter

September 12, 2005
In this update:

Immigration Immigration Subcommittee Votes to End Diversity Visa Lottery - Next up, Full Committee Consideration
Governor Schwarzenegger Vows to Veto Illegal Alien Driver's License Bill
FAIR Releases New Report, "Code Orange: Diminishing the Terrorist Threat to America"
Border Patrol Reassigned to Katrina Relief Effort Leaving Border Security Vulnerable
New Cosponsors of Key Bills
Upcoming Events
Immigration Subcommittee Votes to End Diversity Visa Lottery - Next up, Full Committee Consideration

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

We must now focus on getting the full Judiciary Committee to take up and approve this important legislation. With Judiciary Committee approval, H.R. 1219 can be brought to the House floor for a vote.

If your representative is a member of the Judiciary Committee, follow this link to send a free message from our web site urging your representative to press the committee to take up and approve H.R. 1219 as soon as possible.

If your representative is not a Judiciary Committee member, you can help by calling 202-225-3951 and leaving a message for Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) urging him to schedule a full committee markup of H.R. 1219 as soon as possible.

Your message can be as simple as: "I'm calling to express my support for Rep. Goodlatte's bill to end the highly abused visa lottery and to urge Chairman Sensenbrenner to schedule a full Judiciary Committee markup of H.R. 1219 at the earliest possible date."

(Not sure if your representative is a member of the House Judiciary Committee? Click here to find out.)

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Governor Schwarzenegger Vows to Veto Illegal Alien Driver's License Bill

Hours after the California state Senate approved legislation last Thursday creating a separate driver's license for illegal aliens, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's top aide Richard Costigan, said the governor will veto the bill.

Costigan said SB 60 is premature because the federal government is still finalizing regulations under the REAL ID act guiding state driver's license issuance.

The bill was sent to the governor's desk with a 21-15 vote, the minimum needed for passage. If Governor Schwarzenegger upholds his promise, this will be the second time in two years he has rejected Democratic legislation to give driver's licenses to illegal aliens. Click here to read more.

California residents, take this opportunity to thank Governor Schwarzenegger for his promise to veto SB 60 and to ensure that the public is behind his decision to reject rewarding illegal aliens with driver's licenses. (See below for contact information.)

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
Email web form available at http://www.govmail.ca.gov/

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FAIR Releases New Report, "Code Orange: Diminishing the Terrorist Threat to America"

On this fourth anniversary of the tragic September 11, 2001 attacks on our country, we offer in the memory of the innocent victims of those attacks, our recommendations for lessening the threat of further attacks. Visit our web site to read FAIR's new report, "Code Orange: Diminishing the Terrorist Threat to America."
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Border Patrol Reassigned to Katrina Relief Effort Leaving Border Security Vulnerable

More than 100 Border Patrol agents have been shifted away from the border to New Orleans and other areas affected to assist in Katrina relief efforts. While storm affected states are in dire need of assistance, shifting border patrol agents away from the border leaves the country vulnerable to increased trafficking by illegal aliens and potential terrorists. In response, the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps has begun limited operations in Arizona and Texas to fill gaps in border security as border patrol agents are shifted to Katrina disaster relief. Click here to read more.
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New Cosponsors of Key Bills

The following members signed on to good and bad immigration legislation this past week. If your legislators are listed, please use the phone numbers provided to thank them for supporting good legislation, or to urge them to reconsider their support for bad legislation. Follow the links below to learn more about these bills.

Thank these members for supporting good reform legislation!

H.R. 2049 - Federal Contractors Security Act
Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA) 202-225-3076
Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA) 202-225-3201
H.R. 1219 - Legislation to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Lottery Program

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) 202-225-3906
H.R. 3137 - The CLEAR ACT of 2005

Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-FL) 202-225-5755
Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) 202-225-5015
Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA) 202-225-2431
Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-CO) 202-225-2645
H.R. 98 - Illegal Immigration Enforcement and Social Security Protection Act of 2005

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) 202-225-2711
Urge these members to reconsider their support for the following dangerous bills!

H.R. 884 - The Agricultural Job, Opportunity, Benefits, and Security Act of 2005 (AgJOBS)

Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) 202-225-2111
Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) 202-225-2361
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) 202-225-2464
Rep. David Wu (D-OR) 202-225-0855
Rep. Fortney Stark (D-CA) 202-225-5065
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) 202-225-3072
Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) 202-225-3601
Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA) 202-225-8045
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) 202-225-3661
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) 202-225-7931
Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) 202-225-2605
S. 1438 - Comprehensive Enforcement and Immigration Reform Act of 2005

Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY) 202-224-6441

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Upcoming Events

The House Government Reform Committee Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations will hold a hearing on "Combating Terrorism: Visas Still Vulnerable." When and Where: Sept. 13, 10AM, 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.
The House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims will hold an oversight hearing on "Sources and Methods of Foreign Nationals Engaged in Economic and Military Espionage." (Rescheduled from Sept. 8.) The hearing will begin in a closed session to be followed immediately by a session open to the public. Witnesses: Michelle Van Cleave, national counterintelligence executive, Office of the Director of National Intelligence; Larry Wortzel, visiting fellow, The Heritage Foundation; Maynard Andersen, former deputy undersecretary of Defense for security policy; and William Wolf, president, National Academy of Engineering. When and Where: Sept. 15, 1PM, 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.
The Cato Institute will hold a Capitol Hill briefing titled, "Bordering on Failure: How to Fix Our Broken Immigration System." Participants: Dan Griswold, director of the Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute. When and Where: Sept. 16, 12 Noon, B-369 Rayburn House Office Building. Back to top




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