Tag Archives: United States

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The current immigration reform bill marks a new phase in the fight for immigrant rights in the United States. However, with some minimal gains there are some major losses with this bill. A coalition initiated by black immigrant rights groups, civil rights organizations and faith groups have decided to coordinate a day of action to demand fair, just and inclusive immigration reform that addresses the needs of a diverse group of immigrant groups including Blacks, Asians and Eastern Europeans. In the coming weeks, the Senate Judiciary Committee will be making changes to the proposed bill. Tomorrow, these immigrant groups are standing together to ensure that their needs and concerns are addressed in the bill.

Tomorrow, The Black Institute joins black immigrant rights groups, civil organizations and faith groups across the country in a National Day of Action to demand fair and inclusive immigration reform bill that includes the needs of all immigrant groups.

The Black Institute http://www.theblackinstitute.org/

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A Clear Path

05/13/2013 Nativegrl77

By ThinkProgress War Room

So Far, So Good on Immigration Bill

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee began historic work on a bipartisan immigration reform bill. The centerpiece of the bill is a path to earned citizenship for the 11 MILLION undocumented immigrants already present in this country.

As far as today’s proceedings went, it’s so far, so good:

Modest improvements were made to the bill, including a provision mandating that law enforcement determine whether deporting an individual would raise humanitarian concerns with regard to the individual and/or his or her family.
GOP extremists attempted three separate times today to put up roadblocks to a pathway to earned citizenship that would have essentially guaranteed that the 11 MILLION undocumented would remain in the shadows for decades, if not forever. Fortunately, all three of these attempts were roundly defeated by Democrats and pro-reform Republicans.

Nearly three dozen amendments from both Republicans and Democrats were cleared during the largely amicable legislative markup, with 21 approved — and all but one of those on a bipartisan basis. The committee will continue working over the next two weeks until all 300+ amendments filed have been dealt with, though many of these will not actually be brought up by their sponsors or receive vote.

Today’s action only adds further positive momentum to the bill and a pathway to earned citizenship, which is supported by a whopping 83 percent of Americans.

BOTTOM LINE: The Senate immigration bill is a strong bill, but already represents a compromise for both sides. A bipartisan group of senators is making sure to hold the line on the bill and maintain a clear path to earned citizenship, despite the best efforts of some extreme, anti-reform Republicans to throw up roadblock after roadblock.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

GOP senators vote to spend tens of billions of dollars to militarize the border.

Minnesota House passes marriage equality.

Ex-official: Heritage Foundation has betrayed Reagan.

Heritage Foundation may be forced to hire PR firm to deal with backlash from anti-immigration report.

Racist author of Heritage Foundation’s anti-immigration report also wrote for white nationalist website.

Leader of GOP witch hunt on Benghazi admits he learned nothing new in hours-long hearing.

GOP Senate nominee caught using $281,500 “tax scam.”

GOP senator tries to impose anti-woman agenda on citizens of Washington, D.C.

Unemployment would be a point lower had we not been fixated on the deficit for the past two years

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CONGRESS

05/13/2013 Nativegrl77

The Senate stands in adjournment until 2:00pm on Monday, May 13, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
During Thursday’s session, cloture was filed on S.601, the Water Resources Development Act. As a result, the filing deadline for all first degree amendments to S.601 is 4:00pm Monday.
As previously announced, there will be no roll call votes on Monday. The next roll call vote will be at approximately 12:00pm on the motion to invoke cloture on S.601, the Water Resources Development Act.
As a reminder, there is a 4pm filing deadline for first degree amendments to S.601, Water Resources Development Act. If your senator has a germane first degree amendment and would like to protect the right to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may file it at the desk for you. If you have already filed, there is no need to re-file.Senator Reid said on the floor this afternoon that the managers are close to reaching an agreement to complete action of the WRDA bill. If an agreement can be reached, we could be in a position to vote in relation to amendments and passage of the bill Tuesday and/or Wednesday.
However, if an agreement cannot be reached, the cloture vote on the bill would occur at approximately 12:00 noon tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14.
This afternoon Senator Reid asked unanimous consent to go to conference on the
concurrent resolution on the Budget.
Senator Cruz was unavailable to be on the
floor at this time to object.
Out of respect for the long tradition of comity in
the Senate, Senator Reid withdrew his request.

WRAP UP
No ROLL CALL VOTESNo LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity
Last Floor Action:5/9
1:32:26 P.M. – The House adjourned
pursuant to a previous special order.
The next meeting is scheduled for 2:00
p.m. on May 13, 2013.

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2:00:20 P.M.		The House convened, starting a new legislative day.
2:00:34 P.M.		The Speaker designated the Honorable Frank R. Wolf to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
2:00:56 P.M.		Today’s prayer was offered by the House Chaplain, Rev. Patrick J. Conroy.
2:02:09 P.M.		The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.
2:02:13 P.M.		PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
2:02:42 P.M.		The House received a message from the Clerk. Pursuant to the permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Clerk notified the House that she had received a message from the Secretary of the Senate on May 13, 2013 at 10:34 a.m., stating that that body had passed H.R. 360 without amendment.
2:03:49 P.M.		The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn.The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on May 14, 2013.

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Here’s Why President Obama is Headed to Austin

05/10/2013 Nativegrl77

Today, President Obama is making his first stop on a series of Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour — traveling to Austin, Texas to highlight the work being done to create stable and well-paying jobs that can support a middle-class family.

During his trip, the President will visit a high school where students are learning real-world skills for today’s jobs, and meet technology entrepreneurs who are creating the tools and products that will drive America’s long-term economic growth.

Watch the video to learn about President Obama’s trip to Austin.

Immigration : An American Story

05/09/2013 Nativegrl77

Cecilia Muñoz Director,

Domestic Policy Council

The White House

Hi, everyone —

This is the start of a national debate. Across the country, we’re having a serious discussion about how we can build a fair and effective immigration system that lives up to our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants.

And we need your help to make sure that genuine, personal perspectives are part of the conversation. The truth is, that if we go back far enough, nearly every American story begins somewhere else — so often with ancestors setting out in search of a different life, carving out a future for their children in this place that all of us now call home.

We want to make sure that idea isn’t far from the minds of policymakers here in Washington as we work to reach an agreement to reform immigration.

To kick things off, one of the President’s senior advisors sat down to share his story with you.

Watch David Simas tell his American story, then tell us yours.

When Americans from all over the country — each with different backgrounds, each from different circumstances — all speak out with the same voice, it’s powerful in a way that’s hard to ignore. We’ve seen it again and again, in debate after debate.

And this is the kind of issue where putting a face on the push for reform takes an abstract concept and makes it real. So share your American stories with us, and we’ll put them to use.

We’ll publish them on the White House website. We’ll share them on Facebook and Twitter. We’ll do everything we can to make sure they’re part of the debate around immigration reform.

Get started here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/immigration/stories

Thanks, Cecilia

Cecilia Muñoz Director, Domestic Policy Council The White House