House Democrats file petition to force immigration reform vote
House Democrats renewed demands Wednesday on immigration reform, filing a discharge petition to force House leaders to bring the long-stalled issue up for a ...
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House Democrats file petition to force immigration reform vote - Video
Immigration Reform Press Conference - Part 2
At the State Capitol in St. Paul, MN.
By: Herman Colon
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Newswise (Washington, DC: March 28th, 2014) Physician Shortage, J-1 Visa Waiver Program, Immigration Reform, Permanent Fix to the Medicare SGR, Medical Liability Reform, Tuberculosis Prevention and Funding, and Support for the Nomination of Dr. Vivek H. Murthy as Surgeon General of the United States were part of the Legislative Agenda for 2014 discussed during the annual Legislative Day, organized by the Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the largest ethnic organization of physicians, representing over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC on March 26th and 27th, 2014.
In their efforts to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill, particularly on issues relating to healthcare, over 120 members of AAPI from around the nation shared of the need to fix the many vital healthcare issues that confront the physicians in the US, even as the nearly two dozen US Lawmakers from both the Parties endorsed AAPIs agenda and expressed strong support, while promising to do the needful in the US Congress.
AAPIs Legislative Day and Reception on Doctors Making a Difference began with a Indian Buffet Dinner Reception at Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, March 26th, 2014. In his keynote address, India's Ambassador to the United States, Dr. S. Jaishankar, praised the Indian American community, and in particular, the physicians of Indian origin, for their great achievements and contributions to the their motherland, India, their adopted land, the US and in a very significant way to the transformation of the Indo-US relations. He emphasized the key role AAPIs Global Healthcare Summits have made in transforming the delivery of healthcare system in India. If India has changed, the credit goes to you the physicians of Indian origin, he said. You have made a change in the perception of India in the US by your hard work, commitment and great achievements. And we are truly grateful to you, he added.
In her keynote address on Thursday, March 27th, Assistant Secretary of State, Nisha Desai Biswal, the Obama administration's point person for South Asia, praised the Indian American physicians and the broader Diaspora community for not just being catalytic in fostering the India-United States relationship, but for being the solid anchor that sustains this partnership through good times and bad. AAPI has been a tremendous organization for what you do here in the United States and for what you do in India and for what you do to improve and extend the US-India relationship, she said.
Among the areas of cooperation between the two nations, she referred to Indias partnership with the United States on the Global Call for Action on Child Survival, which was a global effort to end preventable child deaths. Biswal hailed India for being a leader and a partner on so many health innovations and we are working together, like I said, in advancing health issues in India, but then also partnering with India on taking these innovations globally. These are all indicators of how important and valued this relationship is for both countries but also the future trajectory, which is on a very positive path. She acknowledged that, All of this is possible because of the very early investments that all of you have made over the decades, and your continued engagement and activism is most welcome and always, always, needed.
Rep. Jim McDermott, MD (D-WA), co-chair of India Caucus in the US House, acknowledged the need to fix to the Medicare sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. While responding to AAPI leaders referring to the temporary Bill passed in January 2013, averting a 26.5 percent cut, which expires in April 2014. Rep. Steny Hoyer, Chief Democratic Party Whip, pointed out that everyone in the Congress is in agreement that the SGR be fixed permanently. However, the difference is about to how to pay for the increase in healthcare cost that is estimated to be $134 Billion when SGR is fixed.
Rep. Tulasi Gabbard, who began the deliberations on March 27th, while acknowledging the need for a permanent fix to SGR, said, We dont allow it to lapse, without fixing. The way we get this done is through discussion and respect for each others views, working out the differences. Rep. Tom Price, MD (R-GA) said, Healthcare problem is not a Republican or a Democratic problem, It is an American problem and we will need to work together and find amicable solutions to it. Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), a double amputee, surviving a crash during Operation Iraqi Freedom, spoke eloquently of the need to fix the immigration system, the SGR formula and of the need to increase the Residency Slots in order to meet the growing demand for physicians.
Rep. Joe Wilson, said, I have born with a deep appreciation for the Indian American community in the US, and I join you today to have a permanent fix to SGR. While referring to Members of both the Parties coming together to address and express support for AAPIs agenda, he said, You have brought together people who never talk to one another. Rep. Joe Crowley lamented that the US has not been working towards meeting the growing demand for Doctors by educating and raising the Residency Slots in the country. Our country has the best, the finest, bravest physicians in the whole world, he said. While referring to the Indian elections, he praised the peaceful transfer of power through the largest democratic exercise in the world.
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Texas Capitol (Josh Hinkle/KXAN)
AUSTIN (AP) Texas retailers, restaurants, hotels and farmers are suffering from a shortage of low-skilled workers and need changes to federal immigration laws that will make sure the industries have the employees they need to expand, members of a new business coalition said Monday.
Some of the states top trade associations joined the Partnership for a New American Economy, a non-partisan group that lobbies Congress to change U.S. immigration laws to create a legal status for those working in the country illegally and a guest worker program to meet future needs.
It is an emotional issue, it is a politically-charged issue, but we believe that if Congress would act in a reasonable and rational way, it would take away a lot that emotion, said Richie Jackson, CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. It is really time that we step back from the rhetoric and look at the substance that is being proposed.
Jackson said immigrant labor is needed for low-skilled, entry-level jobs in restaurants, hotels, construction and on farms. High demand for labor is creating insecurity by persuading workers to cross the border illegally and to obtain fake documents that steal other peoples identities, he said.
The crux of the issue is what to do with the workforce which is already here. We would want to see, at the very least, a legal status so that that workforce can come out of the shadows, he said. Members of the coalition also include the Texas Association of Retailers, Texas Hotel and Lodging Association, Texas Vegetable Association, the South Texas Property Rights Association and the Texas Citrus Mutual.
Polling shows immigration is one of the most important issues to Republican voters in Texas, and some GOP candidates have taken a hard line on illegal immigration. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, opposes programs that would provide a path to citizenship to the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally.
The coalition supports increasing border security but thinks that is best done by creating a guest worker program that meets both the current demand and the future needs of the American economy. Ray Prewitt, representing vegetable and citrus growers, said the current agricultural worker program has only 60,000 people enrolled when farmers need 1.5 million workers.
If we have crackdowns, were not going to have the workers we have right now, he said. One of the messages to Congress is: If you are going to do those enforcement things, you have to provide for the future flow of workers.
Members acknowledged at a press conference Monday in the Texas Capitol that it will be difficult to get Congress to make changes to immigration laws before elections in November, but the coalition wants to make the issue a priority.
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Texas retailers, restaurants and hotels push for immigration reform
Both the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal had articles this weekend lamenting the lack of action in the House of Representatives on immigration reform.
The NYT piece focused on California farmers that are "increasingly fed up" with the inability to get a steady workforce for their crops. The article suggests at least some California farmers are becoming angry at Republicans over the issue.
"The tension is so high that the powerful Western Growers Association ... says many of its members may withhold contribution from Republicans in congressional races because of the party's stance against a comprehensive immigration overhaul."
The op-ed in the Wall Street Journal explains why Republican lawmakers can shrug their shoulders at some lost campaign funds from farmers. Ralph Reed of the Faith & Freedom Coalition and Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention, write that Republicans seem confident about the midterm elections in the fall and don't trust the president so they are ignoring immigration reform. Reed and Moore explain that's a mistake. They call for reform measures, but no blanket amnesty or guarantee of citizenship for illegal immigrants. "Those who desire citizenship should take their place behind those who have begun that process. There should be no special pathway for those who entered the country illegally. Criminals need to be deported."
Reed and Moore also reflect a different mindset than the California farmer. The pair advocates for the U.S. to make it easier to bring in temporary skilled workers or an educated workforce, noting Canada brings in about 120,000 permanent and temporary workers under such as program, nearly twice the U.S. number.
Farmers who rely heavily on labor need just that though -- labor. They need people willing to break a sweat on a physically demanding job. A lot of farmers have had these workers on their farms but are now losing them because of tighter controls by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
There are people who have been employed for many years, if not decades, and are now turning to their employers saying, Look, I am undocumented, said Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., in the NYT piece. These are not just seasonal workers. These are people who have almost become part of the same family. Its a problem that has grown so big and so multigenerational, we can no longer ignore it.
Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers, said "there is going to be a very loud hue and cry from us in agriculture" if nothing is done.
New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/
Wall Street Journal: http://dld.bz/
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