Congressman Cohen Demands a Vote on Immigration Reform – Video
Congressman Cohen Demands a Vote on Immigration Reform
By: RepCohen
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Congressman Cohen Demands a Vote on Immigration Reform - Video
Archive for the ‘Immigration Reform’ Category
House Democrats, Advocates Demand A Vote On Immigration Reform – Video
House Democrats, Advocates Demand A Vote On Immigration Reform
Members of the House Democratic Caucus were joined by advocates to push for a vote to fix our broken immigration system.
By: HouseDems
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House Democrats, Advocates Demand A Vote On Immigration Reform - Video
Give em Francis, Barry!
Opinion Immigration
On the issue of immigration reform, President Obama has much more than a mere friend in Pope Francis. In fact, if the White House allowed for it, he could have a de-facto spokesperson on immigration reform in the Holy Father.
Much like he used the popes words to successfully frame the income inequality debate last December, President Obama should again go back to Francis to restart the immigration reform debate in Washington.
He has a lot to work with. Since taking office, Pope Francis has put respect for immigrants right at the top of his agenda. In his first pastoral trip, he visited the Italian island of Lampedusa, where hundreds have died in recent months trying to immigrate into Europe from North Africa.
His words that day still ring in my ears: God asks us today: where is your brother? Has any one of us wept because of this situation and others like it? Has any one of us grieved for the death of these brothers and sisters? Has any one of us wept for these persons who were [immigrating here]? For the young mothers carrying their babies? For these men who were looking for a means of supporting their families?
We are a society which has forgotten how to weep, how to experience compassionsuffering with others: the globalization of indifference has taken from us the ability to weep, he said. His compelling message on the rights and dignity of immigrants transcend ideology. It also provides a great context for advancing this great cause of comprehensive immigration reform in our country.
The functional politics of immigration reform is rather simple: we need Speaker Boehner, a Catholic from Ohio, to muster the political courage to bring immigration reform to a vote on the House floor. Once there, its clear the bill would pass with bipartisan support. But Boehner has been held back by the lack of agreement in his own party, and the risk that he could lose his job as speaker if he moves forward with immigration reform.
The truth is that hes probably right. But if we are to believe the testimony of Pope Francis, something greater than Speaker Boehners political future is at stake.
This is where the President of the United States needs to speak clearly. Drawing directly from Francis, President Obama needs to remind the American people of the moral imperative of passing immigration reform and of the real human suffering that is present in todays unjust system. In a new way, he must publicly call on Speaker Boehner to move on this critical issue and to fight against the globalization of indifference.
Theres no doubt that John Boehner, a Jesuit-educated politician, has tremendous respect for his Catholic faith and for Pope Francis. Just two weeks ago, he extended an invitation for the Holy Father to address both Houses of Congress during a potential 2015 papal visit to the United States.
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Democrats Thrust Immigration Reform Back on GOP Agenda
Democrats stood on the east steps to the Capitol in snowy conditions to tag Republicans to make the next move in the ongoing political maneuvering over immigration reform.
On Wednesday, Democrats resorted to what amounts to filing a petition and gathering enough signatures to force House leadership to schedule a vote on a Democrat-sponsored version of the immigration reform bill passed by the Senate in June.
There is little expectation their maneuver will work, but it has become a tactic for Democrats wanting to highlight before November's midterm elections what they say is GOP obstinance on important legislative issues.
So, despite freezing temperatures and biting winds, Democratic members and their allies stood outside the House to demand that House Speaker John Boehner put immigration reform to a vote.
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We are here to say the time is now. We cannot continue to be out of touch with America. It is time for you to put country before politics, said California Rep. Xavier Becerra, House Democratic Caucus chairman, who was coatless.
As some spoke, light snow flurries and wind kicked up, whipping the small American flags some waved and creating an apt backdrop to the cold shoulder Democrats said Republicans are giving families separated by deportations.
For nine months weve waited. Weve given them time. Weve heard the excuses. Weve braved the weather, yet here we sit, said Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., who is the chief sponsor of the Democrats comprehensive immigration reform bill, HR15. The bill is similar to one passed by the Senate last June.
The House rules require a majority of signatures on the petition, meaning Democrats need some Republican signatures, a requirement few expect to be reached.
For nine months weve waited. Weve given them time. Weve heard the excuses. Weve braved the weather, yet here we sit, said Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla.
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Silicon Valley Goes to Washington to Take on Immigration Reform
The luminaries of Silicon Valley may not be known for flexing their political muscle, but leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates continue to push and prod Congress on one issue near and dear to their hearts (and wallets): comprehensive immigration reform.
This effort appears to be the largest campaign by the idealistic Silicon Valley community on a big national issue and is being led by Joe Green, who co-founded pro-immigration reform advocacy group FWD.us with Facebook (FB) CEO Zuckerberg in 2013
In Silicon Valley, if you dont like the way something works, you go around it. If you dont like the taxi system, you build Uber. But you cant go around Congress. Its Congress, said Green, who said many in the tech world find Washington somewhere between confusing and disgusting.
Silicon Valley is the culture of Why Not? D.C. is the culture of Why? Youre always going up against institutional forces whereas in Silicon Valley youre going around them, he said.
FWD.us is among a diverse coalition of groups urging Congress to act on immigration reform, including the Chamber of Commerce, unions, religious organizations and countless think tanks.
The 501(c)(4) group is promoting a bipartisan policy agenda that includes education reform and supporting scientific research. But the focus right now is squarely on tipping the scales in the heated immigration debate.
Visa Reform Sought
People always ask me why do a bunch of tech guys care about 11 million undocumented immigrants? asked Green.
He pointed to Silicon Valleys idealistic and entrepreneurial roots as well as the industrys location in California, where immigration is a very real issue.
Green grew up in Los Angeles, went to a high school that was 40% Latino and had a friend whose parents were deported.
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Silicon Valley Goes to Washington to Take on Immigration Reform