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Could Democrats be fighting the last war and wasting money on another $1.9 trillion economic relief package?

Perhaps, if Saint Louis Federal Reserve president James Bullard is right.

The Fed official thinks the economy is already set for a strong recovery in 2021.

Its possible U.S. economic growth could top 6% this year, he said. Theres certainly a chance we grow faster than China in 2021, Bullard said.

Even the first three months of this year are looking strong. Only weeks ago Wall Street economists were penciling a contraction, Bullard noted

But strong growth should really kick in as soon as April as more Americans are vaccinated, he said.

So Democrats could keep their powder dry for another day, he said.

Democrats have the power here and can do what they want. But the trade-off would be in my mind do they want to invest a lot in this recovery that already looks strong or do they want to save firepower to do other things that they might want to do, Bullard said during a discussion with reporters after he spoke to the CFA Society St. Louis.

President Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats have said a Republican fiscal stimulus package of $618 billion is insufficient.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats cannot accept a package that is too small or too narrow to pull our country of of this emergency.

In his talk to reporters, Bullard said the major downside risk to his forecast was the chance the vaccines might turn out not to be effective as expected against mutations of the coronavirus.

While the unemployment rate has fallen sharply to 6.7% after hitting a peak of 14.8% in April, many economists worry the 10.7 million unemployed Americans who have lost their jobs during the pandemic will have a hard time finding work again and the jobless rate may not improve much further.

But Bullard noted many of these workers believe they are on temporary layoffs. If they are called back, he thinks the unemployment rate could fall to 4.5% by the fourth quarter.

The problem of the permanently unemployed isnt as big as it was during the aftermath of the financial crisis, Bullard said.

There is still a tendency to think that this is a replay of the global financial crisis and a replay of the recovery from the global financial crisis. I dont think its anything like that, this shock is very different.

The idea that youre still not going to recover three, four, or five years from now is not the right way to view whats going on here, he said.

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U.S. economic growth could surpass China this year and Democrats may be better off spending stimulus money on something else, Fed's Bullard says -...

Four Texas Democrats in the U.S. House have come out against President Joe Bidens Wednesday executive order directing the secretary of the interior to halt new oil and gas leases on federal public lands and waters to the extent possible.

In a letter, Democratic Reps. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, Henry Cuellar of Laredo, Lizzie Pannill Fletcher of Houston and Marc Veasey of Fort Worth called Bidens order far-reaching and demanded he rescind it, arguing that banning responsible energy leasing would eliminate jobs, decrease the countrys gross domestic product, increase crude imports from foreign countries and chip away at federal revenue, among other concerns.

Texas ... has been ravaged by the coronavirus and this recent Executive Order will hurt an already suffering community. Therefore, I urge the Biden administration to rescind this federal order and reevaluate the impact of this measure with input from relevant stakeholders and experts, Gonzalez said in a news release. I, and my colleagues, stand ready to work with President Biden, the incoming secretary of interior and other stakeholders to develop a thoughtful policy that addresses climate change, protects American jobs and moves us forward.

At a signing ceremony Wednesday, Biden cast the order as a measure to slow the pace of climate change and avoid the pollution of public lands.

[Unlike] the previous administration, well start to properly manage lands and waterways in ways that allow us to protect, preserve them, the full value that they provide for us for future generations, Biden said. Let me be clear, and I know this always comes up: Were not going to ban fracking. Well protect jobs and grow jobs, including through stronger standards like controls from methane leaks and union workers willing to install the changes.

The order, dubbed the Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad Executive Order, also calls for the interior secretary to launch a rigorous review of existing energy leases and permits while identifying steps toward doubling offshore wind energy production by 2030. It also establishes an interagency National Climate Task Force along with the development of an emissions-reduction target.

Bidens other executive order reestablishes the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, which will seek input, advice and the best-available science, data and scientific and technological information from scientists, engineers and other experts in science, technology and innovation.

Efforts to fight climate change are largely popular among Democrats in Texas and across the nation. But the energy sector is a major source of jobs in the state, making the issue more politically complicated here. Soon after the four Democrats released the statement, the Congressional Leadership Fund, a political action committee devoted to helping Republicans win a majority in the U.S. House, released statements criticizing two other Texas Democrats U.S. Reps. Filemon Vela of Brownsville and Colin Allred of Dallas for not signing on.

The federal government owns 1.9% of the land in Texas, which is less than 3.3 million acres out of more than 168 million throughout the state. According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, there are more than 11.7 million acres of active energy leases off the Gulf of Mexico, as of the beginning of January. Of the leases that are active, slightly more than 2.5 million acres are producing or have produced oil or gas.

While the four Texas Democrats spoke out against Bidens plan for energy leasing, they praised him for signing an order rejoining the international Paris climate agreement on the first day of his administration. The letter does not mention where the four Texas Democrats stand on Bidens decision to revoke the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

Correction, Jan. 28, 2021: This story previously misspelled the last name of a U.S. representative in one reference. He is Vicente Gonzalez, not Gonzales.

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Four Texas Democrats urge Joe Biden to rescind oil and gas order - The Texas Tribune

President Bidens first weeks in office have been spent dismantling many of his predecessors policies on immigration.

Biden signed three executive orders on Tuesday aimed at undoing changes Trump made to U.S. immigration policy, creating a task force to reunite families separated at the border and ordering a review of Trump's immigration practices.

This is in addition to a broad plan Biden unveiled on his first day in office that would carve a path to citizenship for the more than 11 million immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally, among other reforms.

This shows the presidents desire to make a clean and aggressive break with the Trump administration, says Ali Noorani, president and CEO of the National Immigration Forum.

If there's anything that President Trump defined his administration on, it was being as anti-immigrant as possible, he says.

A direct vision on immigration reform was missing from the Obama administration, he says, in contrast to Bidens clear moves on the matter only days into his presidency.

Noorani says immigration reform has a long history of enjoying bipartisan support. Congress can quickly address some issues pertaining to those with temporary protected status such as the so-called DREAMers in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and migrant farmworkers by moving legislation that was already passed in the House. Passing that legislation alone would address about 3 million to 4 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, he says.

Taking swift action to improve policies for those with temporary protected status shows the nation that immigration reform is good for the American worker, good for their families, Noorani says.

So far, Bidens executive orders have gotten the U.S. back to square one. Activists are pushing for a complete overhaul of the terribly antiquated immigration system, which hasnt been reformed in decades, he says.

Comprehensive reform to Noorani includes the legalization and a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. More than 5 million immigrant workers have been on the frontlines of essential labor during the COVID-19 pandemic, he points out.

To address the future needs of legal immigration, Bidens plan needs to lay out a vision for work and family visas, he says, because the U.S. must increase legal immigration by about 317,000 people per year in order just to maintain the old age dependency ratio.

The third piece of an all-inclusive reform plan would be reassessing the immigration enforcement system to include measures based on actual risk.

A border wall is not based on any sort of a risk, he says. Securing and resourcing ports of entry that's actually based on data because the majority of drugs, guns and money are smuggled through ports of entry. That's what we should be fortifying.

The pandemic has only made immigration in the U.S. more complicated. The massive immigration backlog since visa applications were suspended last April has already surpassed the projected growth rate of increasing legal immigration by 317,000 people per year. About 380,000 visa applications are waiting for review.

Noorani says Bidens executive orders this week will begin chipping away at the visa application list.

In past administrations, theres been bipartisan support for certain immigration reforms, but the spirit of cross-aisle cooperation has eroded in Washington in recent years. But Noorani remains hopeful because of the many different options for reform.

He says Democrats can engage Republicans who were just turned off by the Trump administrations approach to immigration. And if Democrats dont have enough support from their GOP constituents, the Senate could also forge ahead on a party line vote and have Senate Democrats blow up the filibuster, for example.

He says it would be a smart move for Democrats, particularly in the Senate, to begin making moves on immigration because theres a history and theres a desire for change.

Alexander Tuerkproduced and edited this interview for broadcast withTinku Ray.Serena McMahonadapted it for the web.

Originally posted here:
Biden Continues Dismantling Trump Immigration Policy As Advocates Push For Comprehensive Reform - Here And Now

We are long overdue for immigration reform that fixes our guest worker visa system and provides stability for those currently working in agriculture. In every region of the country I visit, I hear from farmers who are facing shortages and delays in hiring skilled employees to help keep up with the demand for safe, sustainable American-grown food, fiber and renewable fuel. Workforce shortages have been one of the greatest limiting factors for growth in U.S. agriculture, and its time we find a solution that works for all.

Its good to see renewed energy and enthusiasm from the Administration around addressing this complex issue. Farm Bureau has long called for immigration reform that addresses the needs of our current farm employees while ensuring agriculture can continue to fill its workforce needs. Its been about 35 years since Congress last passed a comprehensive reform bill, and a lot has changed in agriculture over that time. Responsible immigration reform will take all of us working together to get it right.

The current farm workforce is aging, and farmers are struggling to keep up with filling positions.

A robust agriculture industry is essential to our economy, national security and environmental sustainability. We must work together to ensure U.S. agriculture has the resources it needs to continue to provide and fill these essential farm jobs.

While advances in robotics have replaced some farm jobs, we need skilled employees to manage that equipment. Other farm jobs like tending livestock and pruning or picking fresh produce still require a human touch. Farmers pay competitive wages, in addition to added benefits under the H-2A program, but its a constant challenge to recruit and retain employees. Ive met with farmers who have even added benefits such as on-site cafeterias and health clinics for employees to promote well-being and increase employee retention, and they still face workforce shortages. We also recognize not all growers are able to undertake these initiatives to attract new employees. Other smaller-sized farms have built long-term relationships with their employees as they work side-by-side building the business together. Yet, staffing remains a challenge.

Even with competitive wages and added benefits, there is less interest in farm jobs as folks leave rural areas and are more removed from the farm. Meanwhile the current farm workforce is aging, and farmers are struggling to keep up with filling positions. Margins are slim even in the best seasons on the farm, and farmers can find it hard to stay competitive with other industries and lower-priced agricultural imports.

Demand in the H-2A program has grown significantly in recent years, and theres no sign of that slowing down. The number of certified H-2A positions has increased more than three times compared to 10 years ago, according to DOL data. But the program falls short in giving the flexibility employers and employees need. Delays in processing applications have often left farmers without the workers they need in time for harvest, even before the pandemic. Crops shouldnt be left to rot while paperwork sits in an agency inbox.

U.S. agriculture needs a flexible guest-worker program that allows contract and at-will employment options that work for both seasonal and year-round needs on the farm. We also need to make sure wage requirements take into account the economic conditions of the agriculture industry and enable farms to remain viable. The American Farm Bureau is ready to work with the Administration and Congress to bring these long overdue reforms to our guest worker program to help provide long-term security to our employees, farm businesses and the rural economy.

Theres no question that farm work is tougheveryone puts in a full days work when it comes to tending and harvesting crops and caring for animals. Farmers know how hard this work is because we have invested our sweat and tears in the soil, often for generations. Its time we find a solution that provides farmers, our employees and our families the stability we all need to keep Americas farms growing.

Zippy DuvallPresidenttwitter.com/@ZippyDuvall

Vincent Zippy Duvall, a poultry, cattle and hay producer from Greene County, Georgia, is the 12th president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.

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Immigration ReformTime to Get It Right - Farm Bureau News

The president says he wants a government as diverse as America when he enters the White House. Here are some of his Executive Branch picks. USA TODAY

In one of her first days in Congress nearly two decades ago,Rep. Linda Snchez remembersbeing told by a friend on Capitol Hill that there are two types of lawmakers: a workhorseorashowhorse.

Snchez said she's the kind of lawmaker who wants to get things done.

Now, the California congresswomanhas taken the lead in putting together a group of seven women, who she described as workhorses,who will shepherdthelegislative efforts to getPresident Joe Bidens immigration reform billthrough theHouse of Representatives.

"I can unequivocally say that every woman that is part of this 'Closers' group is a workhorse,"Snchez saidin an interview with USA TODAY."They're not doing it for the glory or for the credit. They are in it to get (immigration reform)done once and for all. It's long overdue."

Biden has called for aneight-yearpathway to citizenship forthenearly 11 million immigrants living in the United States without legal status, a shorter process to legal status for agriculture workers and recipients of theDeferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, and an enforcement plan that includes deploying technology to patrol the border.

While they arein the early stages ofputting together their legislativestrategy on the immigration plan,the seven congresswomen will likely become the face of the bill in the House, as they continue to work closely with the White House to pass the first comprehensive immigration reform legislation in more than 30 years.

More: Biden's effort to reunite Trump-era separated families is trickiest immigration challenge

The group, who call themselves the Closers,includesReps. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif.,Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif.,Nydia Velzquez, D-N.Y., Judy Chu, D-Calif., Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., and Karen Bass, D-Calif.

Snchez, chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force,said she chose this group of congresswomen because of their past work on immigration, in addition to several of the congresswomen serving districts that have large migrant communities.

For example,Roybal-Allard, the firstMexican Americanwoman to be elected to Congress, represents Californias 40th Congressional District, which is home to the highest DACA-eligible population in the UnitedStates.Chu,whose district covers parts ofLos Angeles and San Bernardino counties, has worked frequently on immigration issues, with a focus on Asian and Pacific Islander migrants.

Immigrant rights activists energized by a new Democratic administration and majorities on Capitol Hill are gearing up for a fresh political battle to help push through President Joe Biden's proposed immigration bill. (Jan. 26) AP Domestic

The group has representatives from the Congressional HispanicCaucus, Congressional BlackCaucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

"They are women that sort of reach ...all four corners of the caucus," Snchez said. "They can really fan out and touch all constituencies within our caucus."

More: Asylum seekers at US-Mexico border see hope in Biden administration immigration changes

Bass and Clarke, who is a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, have frequently worked on immigrationthrough the CBC.

I have seen glaring inequities and civil rights violations, and I will not relent until our immigration system reflects a modern and equitable approach to this issue. Reversing the policies of the last four years is not enough,Clarke said in a statement.

Passing immigration reform will be a challenge. And the group of lawmakersmay try topush through legislation that already passed in the House such asthe Farm Workforce Modernization Actand the No Ban Act in addition to Bidens immigration reform plans, Chu told USA TODAY. There are also talks that comprehensive immigration reform legislation may be broken up into several bills rather than onelarge bill.

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act creates a pathway to legalization for agricultural or farm workers, as well as reforms the existing visa program for agriculture workers, known as the H-2A visa.The No Ban Act would prohibit religious discrimination in visa applications, as well as revoke Trump's travel ban. Biden has already rolled back the former president's travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries.

Biden has included aspects of these bills in his own legislative package.

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Chu told USA TODAY that the group will have to look at the legislative text before deciding on a plan to move forward.

"The means by which we do it still remains to be seen," Chu said of passing Biden's immigration reform legislation. "It could be one big bill, or it could be different bills."

The last time comprehensive, bipartisan immigration legislation was brought up in Congress was in 2013.

Although no legislation was passed, former President Donald Trump during his administration took a hardline approach to immigration. He had several controversialpolicies, such as his zero tolerance policy that led to the separation of children and parents at the U.S.-Mexico border and attempted to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The Supreme Court upheld thatprogram in a ruling last year.

Biden has rolled back some of Trumps controversial policies through executive order such as haltingconstruction on the border wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday afternoon that the president will also sign more executive actions next week.

The White House doesnt have a timeline on when they want to see legislation presented and passed, butPsaki said last week that we would like to see them move forward quickly on immigration reform.

Biden is trying to get several large legislative packages through Congress, including a COVID-19 relief package. This is all happening amid an impeachment trial in the Senate for Trump, who was impeached earlier this month.

Snchez said she has been in contact with the White House and is working with them on legislation, as well as with Sen. Bob Menendez, who is leading Biden's immigration reform in the Senate.

Undoing Trump's policies: A look at Biden's first week as president

But the California congresswoman also acknowledged that the group of 'Closers' will also have to get Republicans and more moderate members on board to come up with legislation that can pass in both chambers of the house. However, outreach to other members of Congress likely won't happen until bill text is released.

Snchez said the members will reach out to hear the fear and concerns from not only members of Congress, but of activist groups.

Republicans so far have voiced concern about Biden's legislation not doing enough for security along the border and criticized the pathway to citizenship for all immigrants living in the U.S. without legal status. Republicans argue that giving undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship amounts to amnesty. Biden has also been criticized by some Republicans for introducing legislation on Day One of his presidency, as the nation still grapples with an ongoing pandemic.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has previously said Bidens bill would prioritize help for illegal immigrants and not our fellow citizens.

Snchez said that while getting immigration reform passed will be a "collective effort," it's one that must happen even if it looks different than what Biden has proposed.

"What is non-negotiable is inaction,"she said. "We want to deliver. We will get this done."

Here are the members of the 'Closers:'

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., ischairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force and will be leading the group of 'Closers' for Biden's immigration reform legislation. She has worked on legislation regarding immigration and supported legislation like theDream and Promise Act, which provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., (center) and other lawmakers speak to reporters about the 2020 Census on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 5, 2020.(Photo: J. Scott Applewhite, AP)

Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., is chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. She has written legislation like the No Ban Act. Aspects of that legislation were included in Biden's immigration reform proposal.

Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) speaks at a House Judiciary Committee meeting on Capitol Hill on June 17, 2020, in Washington, D.C.(Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Pool/Getty Images/TNS)

Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., is chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and has led efforts to work with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and theCongressional Asian Pacific American Caucus on immigration reform. She has also focused on elevating discussions on the African migrant experiences.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren asks questions to former special counsel Robert Mueller.(Photo: Andrew Harnik, AP)

Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., was the chairwoman of the House Judiciarys Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship in the last Congress, and will likely be the incoming chairwoman of that subcommittee. She has worked extensively on immigration reform and was previously practiced immigration law.

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Downey) joined other lawmakers in asking President Obama to protect young immigrants who gave their information to the government under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.(Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Rep.Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif., was theoriginal co-author of the Dream Act in the House, which provides a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. She also helped pass the latest version of that legislation, which also offers a pathway to citizenship fortemporary protected status or deferred enforcement departure holders, in the House in 2019. The legislation, however, was never brought up in the Senate.

Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y.(Photo: Bebeto Matthews, AP)

Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., also helped co-lead the 2019Dream and Promise Act to get it passed in the House. Clarke, a daughter of Jamaican immigrants, was also chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Immigration Task Force.

Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., and others participate in an event with DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), TPS (Temporary Protected Status), and DED (Deferred Enforced Departure) recipients on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 6, 2019.(Photo: Brendan Smialowski, AFP/Getty Images)

Rep. NydiaVelzquez, D-N.Y., is the former chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.Velzquez,the first Puerto Rican woman elected to serve in Congress, also helped co-author the Promise Act that passed in 2019.

Migrants are awaiting word from the new Biden administration on changes to U.S. immigration policy that they hope will allow them into the country. Biden's proposal would create an eight-year pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants. (Jan. 20) AP Domestic

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Meet the 7 congresswomen who are steering Biden's immigration agenda in the House - USA TODAY