Take Action Now : March 24, 2006.
The Senate Judiciary Committee may attempt to complete immigration bill mark-up this week.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Arlen Specter R-PA., is currently considering the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006. The committee has met twice to consider the bill, but has only made progress on Titles I and II on border and interior enforcement. The most controversial issues, such as the criminalization of the undocumented and those who assist them, the temporary worker program, and the fate of the undocumented population, could be taken up this week. The committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday and Thursday and may try to finish its work and report a bill by the end of the week. It is crucial that you contact your Senators this week to ask them to support comprehensive immigration reform, most particularly an earned legalization program for the 11 million undocumented in the country.
As background, Senator Frist has stated he will bring enforcement-only legislation (most likely Titles I, II, and III of the legislation) to the floor the week of March 27 if the Committee does not report a bill to the floor. Such a move would diminish chances that comprehensive immigration legislation will be considered during the current Congress.
We urge you to contact the Senators no later than Wednesday with a two-part message:
1). Only a comprehensive immigration reform bill is acceptable and that the Senate Judiciary Committee should be given time to complete its work and,
2). Please support an amendment to the bill which would provide an earned legalization program for the 11 million undocumented in the country.
Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are:
Alabama: Senator Jeff Session's office at (202) 224-4124
Arizona: Senator Jon Kyl's office at (202) 224-4521
California: Senator Feinstein’s office at: (202) 224-3841
Delaware: Senator Biden’s office at: (202) 224-5042
Illinois: Senator Durbin’s office at: (202) 224-2152
Iowa: Senator Grassley’s office at: (202) 224-3744
Kansas: Senator Brownback’s office at: (202) 224-6521
Massachusetts: Senator Kennedy’s office at: (202) 224-5251
New York: Senator Schumer’s office at: 202-224-6542
Ohio: Senator DeWine’s office at: (202) 224-2315
Oklahoma: Senator Coburn’s office at: (202) 224-5754
Pennsylvania: Senator Specter’s office at: (202) 224-4254
South Carolina: Senator Graham’s office at: (202) 224-5972
Texas: Senator Cornyn’s office at: (202) 224-2934
Utah: Senator Hatch’s office at: (202) 224-5251
Vermont: Senator Leahy’s office at: (202) 224-4242
Wisconsin: Senator Kohl’s office at: (202) 224-5653 & Senator Feingold’s office at: (202) 224-5323
Click on the links provided for a summary of the bill and talking points which highlight the major issues in case you have an opportunity for a longer conversation with staff. Again, the short message is that 1). the Senate Judiciary Committee should be given time to complete its work on a complicated immigration bill. Such a bill should not be rushed out of committee. Please support an amendment to the bill in committee and/or on the floor which would provide an earned legalization program for the 11 million undocumented in this country. (An earned legalization program would provide temporary work visas for currently undocumented. It would require them to pay a fine, begin learning English, and work for six years before becoming eligible for a green card/permanent residency)
This is an important week for the chances for comprehensive immigration reform. We need your voices.
Justice for Immigrants: A Journey of Hope.
The Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform
www.justiceforimmigrants.org
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