 |
|  | | MicEvHill.Com | | Covering Immigration and Refugee Legislative Matters from Inside the Beltway |
| | |
|
| | |
| This Week in Immigration- and Refugee-Related Legislation Archives |
This Week on the Hill -- Current Edition
Week of August 2, 2010
The House Has Begun a Six Week-Long August Recess; Will Return on September 14
The Senate Enters Last Week Before Beginning Its Five Week-Long August Recess
This Week’s Hearings
No hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed.
No markups are scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are anticipated.
This Week’s Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, no floor actions actions are anticipated in the Senate this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions.
Notwithstanding the lack of scheduled items for floor consideration, the following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are ready for floor action in the Senate and could be acted upon at any time:
- Refugee Opportunity Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2960, the Refugee Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar R-IN). As approved by the Committee, S. 2960 would exempt aliens who have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are employed overseas by the Federal Government from the one-year-long physical presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Return of Talent Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2974, the "Return of Talent Act," which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). As approved by the Committee, S. 2974 would establish a new program, called the "Return of Talent Program." The new program would allow up to 1,000 aliens per year who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of their citizenship or nationality and have the time spent outside of the United States count toward towards the naturalization physical presence requirement. In order to be eliigble for the program, an alien would have to be returning to a country that is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction, and the alien would have to be "making a material contribution to reconstruction efforts" in his or her country of citizenship or nationality.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Torture Victims Relef Reauthorization Act. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has approved S. 2839, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009. As approved by the Committee, S. 2839 would authorize $25 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to assist domestic torture victims. Under the measure, funding would flow through the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would provide grants to domestic torture treatment centers and programs. In addition to authorizing funding for torture victims who reside in the United States, S. 2839 also would authorize $12 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for the president to provide grants to foreign programs and centers that treat torture victims.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week.
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated:
- White House Daily Briefings. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is expected to conduct his daily briefing each day this week.
The White House Daily Briefings will be scheduled on a day-to-day basis.
|
Week of July 26, 2010
The House is Expected to Take Up FY '10 Supplemental Appropriations Bill Containing Funding for Refugees
The Senate Appropriations Committee is Expected to Markup the FY '11 Bill Funding Refugee Resettlement
The House is Scheduled to Begin a Six Week-Long Recess Upon the Close of Business This Week
The Senate is Scheduled to Remain in Session Next Week
This Week’s Hearings
The following hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed:
- Oversight Hearing Over the Operations of the FBI. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled an oversight hearing for this week to examine the operations of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The sole witness for the hearing will be FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III.
This week's hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
-
The Crisis in Haiti. The House House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere has scheduled a hearing for this week titled “The Crisis in Haiti: Are We Moving Fast Enough?” Witnesses at the hearing will include Rajiv Shah, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development; Samuel A. Worthington, President and CEO, InterAction; and Jimmy Jean-Louia, Actor and Goodwill Ambassador, Pan American Development Foundation.
This week's hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
-
Fraud in the U.S. Passport Issuance Process. The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week on Passports and Fraud titled, “The Passport Issuance Process: Closing the Door to Fraud.” Witnesses at this week's hearing will include Brenda Sprague, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Passport Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs; and Gregory D. Kutz, Forensic Audits and Special Investigations Unit, Government Accountability Office.
This week's hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Thursday, July 29, 2010, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
The following markups are scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are anticipated:
- Subcommittee Markup of Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations for Refugee Resettlement and Treatment of Unaccompanied Alien Children. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has scheduled a markup for this week of the fiscal year 2011 measure that funds the federal government's refugee resettlement program. Also included in the Fiscal Year 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill each year is funding for assistance to trafficking victims and torture victims who are lving in the United States, as well as funding for the care and placement of unaccompanied alien children.
This week's Subcommittee markup is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, in Room SD-138 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
- Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations for Border Enforcement, Interior Immigration Enforcement, and Immigration Services. The full House Committee on Appropriations has scheduled a full committee markup for this week of the fiscal year 2011 measure that funds the federal government's border enforcement, interior immigration enforcement, and immigration services adjudication and processing functions. Those functions are funded each year in the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
This week's full Appropriations Committee markup is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 27, 2010, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
- Markup of Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has scheduled a markup for this week of several bills, including S. 3243, the Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010.
This week's markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, in Room SD-342 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
- Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations for Refugee Resettlement and Treatment of Unaccompanied Alien Children. The full Senate Committee on Appropriations has scheduled a full committee markup for this week of the fiscal year 2011 measure that funds the federal government's refugee resettlement program. Also included in the Fiscal Year 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill each year is funding for assistance to trafficking victims and torture victims who are lving in the United States, as well as funding for the care and placement of unaccompanied alien children.
This week's full Appropriations Committee markup is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Thursday, July 29, 2010, in Room SD-106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
This Week’s Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, the following floor actions are anticipated this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions:
-
Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 emergency supplemental appropriations bill. The version that the Senate approved last week jettisoned $700 MILLION in border security provisions that the House had approved on July 1, leaving intact about $700 MILLION in refugee-related provisions that the Senate had previously approved.
As a technical matter, The House of Representatives and Senate have been bouncing amendments to a previously passed version of H.R. 4899 back and forth between the two chambers. The most recent action in Congress on H.R. 4899 occurred on July 22, when the Senate rejected House amendments to the measure, sending the bill back to the House of Representatives. On July 1, 2010, the House of Representatives approved amendments to the Senate-approved measure by a vote of 239-182. That action was preceded on May 27, 2010, by Senate approval of its amendments to H.R. 4899.
Significant differences existed between the House and Senate versions of H.R. 4899, and the White House had issued a veto threat because of some of the provisions that the House included in its most recent version of the measure. These differences necessitated a negotiation between the two chambers in an effort to produce a compromise between the House and Senate. However, in the end, the House Democratic Leadership gave up on trying to reach a compromise, and the Senate last week opted to send its version back to the House for what is expected to be its approval of the measure.
From an immigration and refugee perspective, when the House- and Senate-approved versions of H.R. 4899 were combined, together they would have appropriated more than $1.4 BILLION in supplemental fiscal year 2010 border security, immigration, and refugee funding. Included in this amount was $700 MILLION in the House-approved version of the measure for border security activities. Those provisions are now gone from the bill, leaving $165 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance Account (MRA) account; $100 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to Jordan to help it deal with refugees; $465 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti; and an additional appropriation of $10.6 MILLION in the Senate-approved version to assist in the adjudication, placement, and reception of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants.
In addition to scheduled items, the following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are ready for floor action in the Senate and could be acted upon at any time:
- Refugee Opportunity Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2960, the Refugee Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar R-IN). As approved by the Committee, S. 2960 would exempt aliens who have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are employed overseas by the Federal Government from the one-year-long physical presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Return of Talent Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2974, the "Return of Talent Act," which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). As approved by the Committee, S. 2974 would establish a new program, called the "Return of Talent Program." The new program would allow up to 1,000 aliens per year who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of their citizenship or nationality and have the time spent outside of the United States count toward towards the naturalization physical presence requirement. In order to be eliigble for the program, an alien would have to be returning to a country that is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction, and the alien would have to be "making a material contribution to reconstruction efforts" in his or her country of citizenship or nationality.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Torture Victims Relef Reauthorization Act. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has approved S. 2839, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009. As approved by the Committee, S. 2839 would authorize $25 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to assist domestic torture victims. Under the measure, funding would flow through the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would provide grants to domestic torture treatment centers and programs. In addition to authorizing funding for torture victims who reside in the United States, S. 2839 also would authorize $12 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for the president to provide grants to foreign programs and centers that treat torture victims.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week.
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated:
- White House Daily Briefings. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is expected to conduct his daily briefing each day this week.
The White House Daily Briefings will be scheduled on a day-to-day basis.
- Speaker Pelosi Press Conference. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to hold her weekly press conference this week. Immigration questions are possible.
It is anticipated that the Speaker's weekly press conference will occur Thursday, July 29, 2010, in the Speaker's Ceremonial Room in the U.S. Capitol Building. The time of the press conference had not been set at the time of this writing.
It is anticipated that the Minority Leader's weekly press conference will occur Thursday, July 29, 2010. The time of the press conference had not been set at the time of this writing.
|
Week of July 19, 2010
Congress just got back into town last week from it's Independence Day recess. But already, it is looking forward to the August recess which, in the House, is scheduled to begin after the close of next week's business.
This Week’s Hearings
The following hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed:
- Hearing on the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has scheduled a hearing titled “Charting a Path Forward: The Homeland Security Department’s Quadrennial Homeland Security Review and Bottom-Up Review.”
This week's hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, in Room SD-342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
- Hearing on the Merida Initiative. The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere has scheduled a hearing for this week titled “Assessing the Merida Initiative: A Report from the Government Accountability Office.”
The Merida Initiative is a multi-year program design to staunch the flow of drugs into the United States by providing technical assistance, equipment and training to support law enforcement operations in Mexico, Central America, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The initiative complements U.S. domestic efforts to reduce drug demand, stop the flow of arms and weapons, and confront gangs and criminal organizations.
This week's hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
- Hearing on Alien Smuggling. The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism has scheduled a hearing for this week titled “Enhancing DHS’ [Department of Homeland Security] Efforts to Disrupt Alien Smuggling Across Our Borders.”
This week's hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, July 22, 2010, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.
This Week’s Markups
The following markups were scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are anticipated:
- Markup of Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations for the Immigration Court System. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies is likely to markup the Fiscal Year 2011 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations Bill, which funds the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)
This week's Subcommittee markup is likely to occur on Thursday, July 22, 2010. However, the time and room number for the hearing had not been set at the time of this writing.
- Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations for Refugee Resettlement and Treatment of Unaccompanied Alien Children. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs is likely to markup its version of the Fiscal Year 2011 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, which funds the federal government's refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, and Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance (ERMA) programs.
This week's Subcommittee markup is likely to occur on Thursday, July 22, 2010. However, the time and room number for the hearing had not been set at the time of this writing.
This Week’s Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, the following floor actions are anticipated this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions:
-
Help HAITI Act of 2010. The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 5283, the Help Haitian Adoptees Immediately to Integrate Act of 2010 or Help HAITI Act of 2010, which was introduced in the House by Representatives by Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). As introduced, H.R. 5283 would authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to adjust to permanent resident status an alien who was paroled into the United States pursuant to the humanitarian parole policy for certain Haitian orphans announced on January 18, 2010, and suspended as to new applications on April 15, 2010. In order to be eligible, an alien would hace to apply for adjustment, be physically present in the United States when the adjustment application is filed, and be admissible as an immigrant.
H.R. 5283 would deem that any alien applying for relief under the measure has satisfied the requirements applicable to adopted children if, before the alien is 18 years of age, he or she adjusts to permanent resident status and is adopted by a U.S. citizen (which may occur before, on, or after status adjustment). If, further, would permit a parent or legal guardian to apply on behalf of a minor, and it would prohibit any derivative immigration benefits for the birth parent of an alien adjusted under this Act.
The House is scheduled to take up H.R. 5283 on either Tuesday, July 20 or Wednesday, July 21 under a procedure known as "suspension of the rules." This procedure precludes floor amendments, limts debate to forty minutes, and requires the affirmative votes of two-thirds of the Members present and voting.
-
Federal Lawsuit Challenging the Constitutionality of Arizona's Immigration Enforcement Law. The full Senate this week hopes to resume consideration of H.R. 5297, the "Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010." The measure would provide incentives for banks to lend to small businesses. It does not contain any significant immigration-related provisions. However, like just about everything that hits the Senate floor, the measure could become the fodder for unrelated immigration enforcement amendments.
Senators Jim DeMint (R-SC) and David Vitter (R-LA) have put the Senate on notice that they intend to offer a floor amendment to the measure that would bar federal lawsuits against the state of Arizona challenging the constitutionality of SB 1070, the state's controversial new immigration enforcement law.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has taken parlimentary steps to block votes on amendments to the measure. It remains to be seen whether Senators DeMint and Vitter will be able to muscle their way to a vote on their amendment.
DeMint Vitter Amendment: Text of the DeMint/Vitter Amendment | Press Release Announcing DeMint/Vitter Amendment
-
Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The Senate this week could take up H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 emergency supplemental appropriations bill. Both the House-approved and a previously Senate-approved versions of the measure contain significant refugee, immigration, and border security provisions.
As a technical matter, The House of Representatives and Senate have been bouncing amendments to a previously passed version of H.R. 4899 back and forth between the two chambers. The most recent action in Congress on H.R. 4899 occurred on July 1, 2010, when the House of Representatives approved amendments to the Senate-approved measure by a vote of 239-182. That action was preceded on May 27, 2010, by Senate approval of its amendments to H.R. 4899. The next action will have to occur in the Senate. However, significant differences exist between the two versions, it will not be easy to negotiate a compromise between the House and Senate on those differences, and the White House has issued a veto threat because of some of the provisions that the House included in its most recent version of the measure. Moreover, it is unclear whether the Senate Democratic leadership will be able to assemble the requisite 60 votes it will need in order to pass a compromise version of the measure. The Democratic Leadership of the House and Senate hope to resolve their differences and send a bill to the White House for the President's consideraiton sometime between now and the beginning of the August recess.
At the time of this writing, the House, the Senate, and the President are at a stalemate. The consensus is that there are not sufficient votes in the Senate to clear the House-approved version of the measure because of concerns that conservative Democrats and Republicans have about the domestic spending that the House added to it. However, the House appears to be holding firm. Insiders speculate that the only reason the Senate would hold a vote on the House Amendments to the measure is to demonstrate that there are insufficient votes so the House will come to the negotiating table.
From an immigration and refugee perspective, when the House- and Senate-approved versions of H.R. 4899 are combined, together they would appropriate more than $1.4 BILLION in supplemental fiscal year 2010 border security, immigration, and refugee funding. Included in this amount is $700 MILLION in the House-approved version of the measure for border security activities; $165 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance Account (MRA) account; $100 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to Jordan to help it deal with refugees; $465 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti; and an additional appropriation of $10.6 MILLION in the Senate-approved version to assist in the adjudication, placement, and reception of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants.
In addition to scheduled items, the following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are ready for floor action in the Senate and could be acted upon at any time:
- Refugee Opportunity Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2960, the Refugee Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar R-IN). As approved by the Committee, S. 2960 would exempt aliens who have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are employed overseas by the Federal Government from the one-year-long physical presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Return of Talent Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2974, the "Return of Talent Act," which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). As approved by the Committee, S. 2974 would establish a new program, called the "Return of Talent Program." The new program would allow up to 1,000 aliens per year who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of their citizenship or nationality and have the time spent outside of the United States count toward towards the naturalization physical presence requirement. In order to be eliigble for the program, an alien would have to be returning to a country that is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction, and the alien would have to be "making a material contribution to reconstruction efforts" in his or her country of citizenship or nationality.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Torture Victims Relef Reauthorization Act. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has approved S. 2839, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009. As approved by the Committee, S. 2839 would authorize $25 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to assist domestic torture victims. Under the measure, funding would flow through the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would provide grants to domestic torture treatment centers and programs. In addition to authorizing funding for torture victims who reside in the United States, S. 2839 also would authorize $12 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for the president to provide grants to foreign programs and centers that treat torture victims.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week. However, while the following measures are not expected to be resolved via a conference committee, the House and Senate have passed differing versions of them and those differences have yet to be resolved:
- Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The full House of Representatives and Senate have approved differing versions of H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 emergency supplemental appropriations bill. Both versions of the measure contain significant refugee, immigration, and border security provisions.
As a technical matter, The House of Representatives and Senate have been bouncing amendments to a previously passed version of H.R. 4899 back and forth between the two chambers. The most recent action in Congress on H.R. 4899 occurred on July 1, 2010, when the House of Representatives approved amendments to the Senate-approved measure by a vote of 239-182. That action was preceded on May 27, 2010, by Senate approval of its amendments to H.R. 4899.
The next action will have to occur in the Senate. However, significant differences exist between the two versions, it will not be easy to negotiate a compromise between the House and Senate on those differences, and the White House has issued a veto threat because of some of the provisions that the House included in its most recent version of the measure. Moreover, it is unclear whether the Senate Democratic leadership will be able to assemble the requisite 60 votes it will need in order to pass a compromise version of the measure. The Democratic Leadership of the House and Senate hope to resolve their differences and send a bill to the White House for the President's consideraiton sometime between now and the beginning of the August recess.
From an immigration and refugee perspective, when the House- and Senate-approved versions of H.R. 4899 are combined, together they would appropriate more than $1.4 BILLION in supplemental fiscal year 2010 border security, immigration, and refugee funding. Included in this amount is $700 MILLION in the House-approved version of the measure for border security activities; $165 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance Account (MRA) account; $100 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to Jordan to help it deal with refugees; $465 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti; and an additional appropriation of $10.6 MILLION in the Senate-approved version to assist in the adjudication, placement, and reception of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants.
Supplemental Appropriations Bill: House-Approved Bill | Draft House Report | Senate-Passed Bill | Senate Committee Report
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated:
- White House Daily Briefings. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is expected to conduct his daily briefing each day this week.
The White House Daily Briefings will be scheduled on a day-to-day basis.
- Drug Cartel Violence. Third Way has scheduled a discussion this week titled “Beyond Border Security: Combating Mexico’s Violent Drug Cartels.”
The discussion is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Tuesday, July 20, 2010, in HVC-215 of the U.S. Capitol Building.
- The Visa Waiver Program. The Heritage Foundation has scheduled a discussion for this week titled “Stopping Terrorists at the Front Door: How the Visa Waiver Program Enhances U.S. Security.”
The event is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 in the Lehrman Auditorium, Heritage Foundation, 214 Massachusetts Ave. N.E. in Washington, DC.
- Discussion on the Politics and Law of Immigration. The Cato Institute has scheduled a discussion for this week on "The Politics and Law of Immigration" Participants in the event will include Daniel Griswold, Director of Cato's Center for Trade Policy Studies; Tim Lynch, Director of Cato's Project on Criminal Justice; Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies; and Gene Healy, Cato's Vice President.
The event is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Wednesday, July 21, 2010, at the offices of the Cato Institute, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, F.A. Hayek Auditorium, Washington, D.C.
- U.S. Government Assistance to Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Reuben Brigety has scheduled a briefing for this week for foreign media on "United States Goverment Assistance to Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa."
The briefing is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
- Speaker Pelosi Press Conference. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to hold her weekly press conference this week. Immigration questions are possible.
It is anticipated that the Speaker's weekly press conference will occur Thursday, July 22, 2010, in the Speaker's Ceremonial Room in the U.S. Capitol Building. The time of the press conference had not been set at the time of this writing.
It is anticipated that the Minority Leader's weekly press conference will occur Thursday, July 22, 2010. The time of the press conference had not been set at the time of this writing.
- Hearing on the Plight of Iraqi Refugees. The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Commission) has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "No Way Home, No Way to Escape: The Plight of Iraqi Refugees and Our Iraqi Allies." Participating in the hearing will be Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD); Representative Alcee Hastings, D-FL); Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Eric Schwartz; Kirk Johnson, Founder and Executive Director of the List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies; Craig Johnstone, Interim President of Refugees International; and Michael Newton, Professor of the Practice of Law at Vanderbilt University Law School.
The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Thursday, July 22, 2010, in Room SH-385 of the Russell Senate Office Building.
|
Week of July 12, 2010
Congress returns this week from its a week-long Independence Day recess.
The Senate returns on Monday, July 12, 2010.
The House returns on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.
This Week’s Hearings
The following hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed:
- Hearing on the Moral Imperative for Comprehensive Immigraton Reform. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law has scheduled a hearing for this week titled “The Ethical Imperative for Reform of Our Immigration System.” The witness list for this week's hearing had not been publicly released at the time of this writing. However, the list of witnesses is expected to include Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, Vice-President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Richard Land, President of the Ethics & Religious LIberty Commission (ERLC), the public policy entity of the Southern Baptist Convention; Reverend Matthew D. Staver, Founder and Chairman of the Liberty Counsel and Dean and Professor of Law of the Liberty University School of Law; and James R. Edwards, Jr., Fellow, Center for Immigration Studies.
This week's hearing is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
- Hearing on Trafficking. The Helsinki Commission has scheduled a hearing for this week titled “A Decade of the Trafficking in Persons Report.” Witnesses at this week's hearing will include Luis CdeBaca, Ambassador At Large, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, State Department; Maria Grazia Giammarinaro, Special Representative and Coordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; Jolene Smith, CEO and Co-Founder, Free the Slaves; and Jeffrey Blom, Vice President of Investigations, International Justice Mission.
This week's hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, in Room SVC-203/202 of the U.S. Capitol Building.
- Hearing on the Role of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles on the U.S. Border with Mexico. The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism has scheduled a hearing for this week titled “The Role of Unmanned Aerial Systems in Border Security.” The witness list for this week's hearing is expected to include Retired Major General Michael C. Kostelnik, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Air and Marine, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; Rear Admiral Vincent B. Atkins, Assistant Commandant for capability (CG-7), U.S. Coast Guard; and Nancy Kalinowski, Vice President of System Operations Services, Air Traffic Organization, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); and John M. Allen, Director, Flight Standards Service, FAA.
This week's hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, July 15, 2010, in Room 310 of the Cannon House Office Building.
This Week’s Markups
The following markups were scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are anticipated:
- Markup of Fiscal Year 2011 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security has scheduled a markup for this week of the Fiscal Year 2011 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Each year, the measure funds the federal governments border enforcement, interior immigration enforcement, and immigration services adjudication functions.
This week's Subcommittee markup is scheduled for Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at 2:30 pm EDT in Room SD-192 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
- Fiscal Year 2011 Appropriations for Refugee Resettlement and Treatment of Unaccompanied Alien Children. The House Appropiriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has scheduled a markup for this week of the fiscal year 2011 appropriations bill that funds federal refugee resettlement activities. The measure, which is the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, provides funding each year for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). In addition to funding refugee resettlement, ORR also funds programs to assist torture victims, trafficking victims, and unaccompanied alien children.
This week's markup is scheduled for 4:00 pm EDT on Thursday, July 15, 2010, in Room 2358-C of the Rayburn House Office Building.
- Markup of Fiscal Year 2011 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. The full Senate Appropriations Committee has scheduled a markup for this week of the Fiscal Year 2011 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Each year, the measure funds the federal governments border enforcement, interior immigration enforcement, and immigration services adjudication functions.
This week's full Appropriations Committee markup is scheduled for Thursday, July 15, 2010, at 2:30 pm EDT in Room SD-192 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
This Week’s Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, no floor actions are anticipated this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related matters.
In addition to scheduled items, the following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are ready for floor action in the Senate and could be acted upon at any time:
- Refugee Opportunity Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2960, the Refugee Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar R-IN). As approved by the Committee, S. 2960 would exempt aliens who have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are employed overseas by the Federal Government from the one-year-long physical presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Return of Talent Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2974, the "Return of Talent Act," which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). As approved by the Committee, S. 2974 would establish a new program, called the "Return of Talent Program." The new program would allow up to 1,000 aliens per year who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of their citizenship or nationality and have the time spent outside of the United States count toward towards the naturalization physical presence requirement. In order to be eliigble for the program, an alien would have to be returning to a country that is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction, and the alien would have to be "making a material contribution to reconstruction efforts" in his or her country of citizenship or nationality.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Torture Victims Relef Reauthorization Act. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has approved S. 2839, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009. As approved by the Committee, S. 2839 would authorize $25 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to assist domestic torture victims. Under the measure, funding would flow through the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would provide grants to domestic torture treatment centers and programs. In addition to authorizing funding for torture victims who reside in the United States, S. 2839 also would authorize $12 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for the president to provide grants to foreign programs and centers that treat torture victims.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week. However, while the following measures are not expected to be resolved via a conference committee, the House and Senate have passed differing versions of them and those differences have yet to be resolved:
- Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The full House of Representatives and Senate have approved differing versions of H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 emergency supplemental appropriations bill. Both versions of the measure contain significant refugee, immigration, and border security provisions.
As a technical matter, The House of Representatives and Senate have been bouncing amendments to a previously passed version of H.R. 4899 back and forth between the two chambers. The most recent action in Congress on H.R. 4899 occurred on July 1, 2010, when the House of Representatives approved amendments to the Senate-approved measure by a vote of 239-182. That action was preceded on May 27, 2010, by Senate approval of its amendments to H.R. 4899. The next action will have to occur in the Senate. However, significant differences exist between the two versions, it will not be easy to negotiate a compromise between the House and Senate on those differences, and the White House has issued a veto threat because of some of the provisions that the House included in its most recent version of the measure. Moreover, it is unclear whether the Senate Democratic leadership will be able to assemble the requisite 60 votes it will need in order to pass a compromise version of the measure. The Democratic Leadership of the House and Senate hope to resolve their differences and send a bill to the White House for the President's consideraiton sometime between now and the beginning of the August recess.
From an immigration and refugee perspective, when the House- and Senate-approved versions of H.R. 4899 are combined, together they would appropriate more than $1.4 BILLION in supplemental fiscal year 2010 border security, immigration, and refugee funding. Included in this amount is $700 MILLION in the House-approved version of the measure for border security activities; $165 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance Account (MRA) account; $100 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to Jordan to help it deal with refugees; $465 MILLION in the Senate-approved version for International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti; and an additional appropriation of $10.6 MILLION in the Senate-approved version to assist in the adjudication, placement, and reception of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants.
Supplemental Appropriations Bill: House-Approved Bill | Draft House Report | Senate-Passed Bill | Senate Committee Report
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated:
- White House Daily Briefings. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is expected to conduct his daily briefing each day this week.
The White House Daily Briefings will be scheduled on a day-to-day basis.
- Press Conference On Persecuted North Korean Refugees. The Korean Church Coalition has scheduled a press conference for this week to "raise awareness of the persecuted North Korean refugees and orphans and expose the weaknesses and strengths of the former and current U.S. policy as it relates to the Korean peninsula to raise awareness of the persecuted North Korean refugees and orphans and expose the weaknesses and strengths of the former and current U.S. policy as it relates to the Korean peninsula." Participants in the press conference are expected to Include Representative Ed Royce, R-CA); Pastor Joshua Park of Hana Church in Buena Park, CA; Pastor Kwang Sun Rhee, chairman of the Christian Council of Korea; Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention; Michael Horowitz, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute; Scott Flipse, senior policy analyst at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom; Pastor Peter Sohn, president of the Korean Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom; and Sam Kim, executive director of the Korean Church Coalition for North Korea Freedom.
The press conference is scheduled for meeting is scheduled for 2:15 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 13, 2010, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
- Capitol Hill Rally On Behalf of Persecuted North Korean Refugees. The Korean Church Coalition has scheduled an event at the U.S. Capitol Building for this week to "Speak on Behalf of the Voiceless" in order to "raise awareness of the persecuted North Korean refugees and orphans and expose the weaknesses and strengths of the former and current U.S. policy as it relates to the Korean peninsula." Participants in the event are expected to Include Pastor Peter Sohn, President of the Korean Church Coalition for North Korean Freedom; David Yi, Senior Pastor at Davis Korean Church; Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention; Suzanne Scholte, President of the North Korean Freedom Coalition; Scott Flipse, Senior Policy Analyst at the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom; and Pastor Joseph Jeungdae Kim of Austin Korean Presbyterian Church.
The event is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Buildin
- U.S. Government Assistance to Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Reuben Brigety has scheduled a briefing for this week for foreign media on "United States Goverment Assistance to Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa."
The briefing is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Wednesday, July 14, 2010, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
- Speaker Pelosi Press Conference. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to hold her weekly press conference this week. Immigration questions are possible.
It is anticipated that the Speaker's weekly press conference will occur Thursday, July 15, 2010, in the Speaker's Ceremonial Room in the U.S. Capitol Building. The time of the press conference had not been set at the time of this writing.
It is anticipated that the Minority Leader's weekly press conference will occur Thursday, July 15, 2010. The time of the press conference had not been set at the time of this writing.
|
Week of July 5, 2010
Congress is in the midst of a week-long Independence Day recess.
The Senate returns on Monday, July 12, 2010.
The House returns on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.
This Week’s Hearings
At the time of this writing, no hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed.
This Week’s Markups
At the time of this writing, no markups are scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are anticipated.
This Week’s Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, no floor actions were scheduled for this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related matters.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week.
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, no "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated for this week.
|
Week of June 28, 2010
This Week’s Hearings
At the time of this writing, the following hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed:
- Confirmation Hearing for Elana Kagan. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary is scheduled to hold hearings thoughout this week on the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice nominee Elana Kagan. There are indications that the nominee will be asked immigration questions during the hearing.
The Senate Committee on the Judiciary's confiirmation hearings are set to begin at 12:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 28, 2010, in Room SH-216 of the Hart Senate Office Building. The hearings will continue each day throughout the week at a time to-be-announced.
This Week’s Markups
At the time of this writing, the following markups are scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are anticipated:
- Funding for the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies has scheduled a markup for this week of the fiscal year 2011 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. Each year, the measure funds the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), as well as several entities that prosecute illegal immigrants for criminal violations.
This Appropriations panel markup is scheduled for 3:30 pm EDT on Tuesday, June 29, 2010, in Room H-140 of the Capitol Building.
- Funding for Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance. The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs has scheduled a markup for this week of the fiscal year 2011 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill. Each year, the measure funds the federal government's refugee admission and overseas refugee assistance programs, which are administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM).
This Appropriations panel markup is scheduled for 4:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, in Room H-140 of the Capitol Building.
- Other Appropriations Bills. Various House subcommittees have scheduled markups throughout this week on other fiscal year 2011 appropriations bills. While these other bills do not fund immigration- or refugee-related agencies, programs, or activities, it is possible that immigration-related amendments could be offered during the markups. The non-immigration- or refugee-related fiscal year 2011 appropriations bills that are scheduled for markup this week include the Fiscal Year Agriculture Appropriations Bill (Wednesday, June 30 at 1:00 pm EDT); Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill (Thursday, July 1 at 9:00 am EDT); and the Fiscal Year 2011 Transportation Appropriations Bill (Thursday, July 1 at 10:00 am EDT).
This Week’s Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, the following floor actions were scheduled for this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related matters:
- Small Business Lending Bill. The full Senate this week hopes to take up H.R. 5297, the "Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010." The measure would provide incentives for banks to lend to small businesses. It does not contain any significant immigration-related provisions. However, like just about everything that hits the Senate floor, the measure could become the fodder for unrelated immigration enforcement amendments.
As the week begins, the Senate expects to vote at 5:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 28, on a motion to invoke cloture and bring debate to an end on a motion to proceed to consideration of the measure. The affirmative votes of 60 senators will be necessary in order for the Senate to agree to vote on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill.
- Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The full House of Representatives this week finally could take up House Amendments to the Senate Amendments to H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 emergency supplemental appropriations bill. The measure that the House takes up is expected to contain significant refugee and immigration provisions. House floor consideration of the measure has been scheduled tentatively for either Thursday, July 1 or Friday, July 2.
The House Democratic Leadership had placed H.R. 4899 on the House floor schedule last week and the week before. However, the Leadership pulled the bill from the schedule both times because of controversy over matters unrelated to the measure's immigration or refugee provisions. It is entirely possible that the bill well be pulled again.
The House Committee on Appropriations released a draft of its version of H.R. 4899 on Tuesday, May 25, and the Committee initially scheduled a markup of that draft for Thursday, May 27. However, political considerations caused the Committee to abandon its planned markup. At the time that the Committee postponed the markup, it indicated that the markup would likely be rescheduled for sometime in June. However, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) two weeks ago announced that the Commitee would abandon the markup, altogether, and that the House would, instead, take up the measure without the benefit of a markup.
From an immigration and refugee perspective, the draft House Appropriations Committee version of the supplemental appropriations bill would appropriate $500 MILLION for border security programs and activities, including $208 MILLION to hire 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents and support personnel; permit the transfer of $177.2 MILLION of funds from other accounts to pay for the deployment of additional National Guard troops; appropriate $10.6 MILLION to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) bureau to defray costs associated with providing services to Haitians in the United States who were displaced by the January earthquake; appropriate $749.3 MILLION in Economic Support Fund (ESF) funds for Haiti; and appropriate $350.7 MILLION in International Development Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti.
The Senate on May 27, 2010, approved its version of H.R. 4899. As passed by Senate, H.R. 4899 contains a supplemental appropriation of $165 MILLION in fiscal year 2010 funding for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance Account (MRA) account; $100 MILLION in Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to Jordan to help it deal with refugees; an additional appropriation of $465 MILLION in fiscal year 2010 for International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti; and an additional appropriation of $10.6 MILLION to assist in the adjudication, placement, and reception of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants.
It was unclear at the time of this writing whether the Amendments that the House will take up will reflect the text of the House Appropriations Committee's draft bill or it would reflect a blending of the House and Senate bills' provisions.
Supplemental Appropriations Bill: Draft House Bill | Draft House Report | Senate-Passed Bill | Senate Committee Report
In addition to the potential floor actions listed above, the following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are ready for floor action in the Senate and could be acted upon at any time:
- Refugee Opportunity Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2960, the Refugee Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar R-IN). As approved by the Committee, S. 2960 would exempt aliens who have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are employed overseas by the Federal Government from the one-year-long physical presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Return of Talent Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2974, the "Return of Talent Act," which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). As approved by the Committee, S. 2974 would establish a new program, called the "Return of Talent Program." The new program would allow up to 1,000 aliens per year who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of their citizenship or nationality and have the time spent outside of the United States count toward towards the naturalization physical presence requirement. In order to be eliigble for the program, an alien would have to be returning to a country that is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction, and the alien would have to be "making a material contribution to reconstruction efforts" in his or her country of citizenship or nationality.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Torture Victims Relef Reauthorization Act. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has approved S. 2839, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009. As approved by the Committee, S. 2839 would authorize $25 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to assist domestic torture victims. Under the measure, funding would flow through the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would provide grants to domestic torture treatment centers and programs. In addition to authorizing funding for torture victims who reside in the United States, S. 2839 also would authorize $12 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for the president to provide grants to foreign programs and centers that treat torture victims.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week.
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated:
The White House Daily Briefings will be scheduled on a day-to-day basis.
- Immigration Advocates Meeting with President Obama On Comprehensive Immigration Reform. President Barack Obama has scheduled a meeting for this week with a number of national leaders on immigration to discuss comprehensive immigration reform and the recently enacted Arizona immigration enforcement law.
The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Monday, June 28, 2010.
- Discussion on Border Security. The Center for American Progress has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled, "In Search of Secure Borders." Participating in the discussion will be Edward Alden, Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations; David A. Martin, Principal Deputy General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security; Kyrsten Sinema, Democratic State Representative, Arizona; C. Stewart Verdery Jr., Founder and Partner, Monument Policy Group, LLC; and Marshall Fitz (moderator), Director of Immigration Policy, Center for American Progress.
The discussion is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Monday, June 28, 2010, in the Washington, DC offices of the Center for American Progress.
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus Meeting with President Obama On Comprehensive Immigration Reform. President Barack Obama has scheduled a meeting with representatives of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus for this week to discuss comprehensive immigration reform and the recently enacted Arizona immigration enforcement law.
The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 29, 2010.
- Improving the U.S. Response to Internal Displacement. The Brookings Institution has scheduled a discussion for this week on "Improving the U.S. Response to Internal Displacement." Participating in the discussion will be Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration Eric Schwartz; Elizabeth Ferris, Senior Fellow and Co-Director of the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement at the Brookings Institution; Roberta Cohen, Nonresident Senior Fellow of Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution; Dawn Calabia, Senior Adviser at Refugees International Susan Reichle, Deputy Assistant Administrator at the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance at U.S. Agency for International Development; Joel Charny, Vice President of Policy at Refugees International; and James Kunder, Senior Researcher at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
The Brookings Institution Discussion is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, June 30, 2010, in the Washington, DC offices of the Brookings Institution.
- Speaker Pelosi Press Conference. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to hold her weekly press conference this week. Immigration questions are possible.
It is anticiapted that the Speaker's weekly press conference will occur Thursday, July 1, 2010, in the Speaker's Ceremonial Room in the U.S. Capitol Building. The time of the press conference had not been set at the time of this writing.
- Using Work Visas to Control Border Security. The Cato Institute has scheduled a panel discussion for this week to discuss the use of work visas to control border security. Participating in the meeting will be Representative Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Daniel Griswold, Director of the Cato Institute's Center for Trade Policy Studies.
The discussion is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Thursday, July 1, 2010, in the Capitol Complex.
It is anticipated that the Minority Leader's press conference will occur on Thursday, July 1, 2010, in Room HVC-114 of the U.S. Capitol Building. The time of the press conference had not been set at the time of this writing.
|
|
Week of June 21, 2010
This Week’s Hearings
At the time of this writing, no hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed.
This Week’s Markups
At the time of this writing, no markups are scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are anticipated.
This Week’s Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, the following floor actions were scheduled for this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related matters:
- World Refugee Day. The House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H. Res. 1350, a resolution reaffirming the goals of World Refugee Day and reiterating the strong commitment to protect the millions of refugees who live without material, social, or legal protections. The House is expected to take up the measure under a procedure known as "suspension of the rules." Under the procedure, the bill will be debated for 40 minutes, floor amendments are precluded, and the measure must receive the affirmative votes of two-thirds of those Members who are present and voting.
The House is scheduled to take up H. Res. 1350 on Wednesday, June 23, 2010.
- Tax Extenders Bill. The Senate this week is scheduled to resume its consideration of H.R. 4213, a measure that would extend several expired or expiring tax and other programs. When the Senate resumes its consideration of the measure, a Revised Baucus Substitute Amendment to H.R. 4213 will be the pending business. The 399 page-long revised Substitute Amendment contains one relatively insignificant immigration-related provision, found in section 620(a), relating to immigration fees that are used for travel promotion.
While the measure does not contain any significant immigration-related provisions, like just about everything that hits the Senate floor, the measure could become the fodder for unrelated immigration enforcement amendments.
- Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The full House of Representatives this week could take up House Amendments to the Senate Amendments to H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 emergency supplemental appropriations bill that is expected to contain significant refugee and immigration provisions. House floor consideration of the measure has been scheduled tentatively for either Thursday, June 24 or Friday, June 25.
The House Democratic Leadership had placed H.R. 4899 on the House floor schedule last week. However, the Leadership pulled the bill from the schedule because of controversy over matters unrelated to the measure's immigration or refugee provisions. It is entirely possible that the bill well be pulled again.
The House Committee on Appropriations released a draft of its version of H.R. 4899 on Tuesday, May 25, and the Committee initially scheduled a markup of that draft for Thursday, May 27. However, political considerations caused the Committee to abandon its planned markup. At the time that the Committee postponed the markup, it indicated that the markup would likely be rescheduled for sometime in June. However, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) two weeks ago announced that the Commitee would abandon the markup, altogether, and that the House would, instead, take up the measure without the benefit of a markup.
From an immigration and refugee perspective, the draft House Appropriations Committee version of the supplemental appropriations bill would appropriate $500 MILLION for border security programs and activities, including $208 MILLION to hire 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents and support personnel; permit the transfer of $177.2 MILLION of funds from other accounts to pay for the deployment of additional National Guard troops; appropriate $10.6 MILLION to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) bureau to defray costs associated with providing services to Haitians in the United States who were displaced by the January earthquake; appropriate $749.3 MILLION in Economic Support Fund (ESF) funds for Haiti; and appropriate $350.7 MILLION in International Development Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti.
The Senate on May 27, 2010, approved its version of H.R. 4899. As passed by Senate, H.R. 4899 contains a supplemental appropriation of $165 MILLION in fiscal year 2010 funding for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance Account (MRA) account; $100 MILLION in Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to Jordan to help it deal with refugees; an additional appropriation of $465 MILLION in fiscal year 2010 for International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti; and an additional appropriation of $10.6 MILLION to assist in the adjudication, placement, and reception of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants.
It was unclear at the time of this writing whether the Amendments that the House will take up will reflect the text of the House Appropriations Committee's draft bill or it would reflect a blending of the House and Senate bills' provisions.
Supplemental Appropriations Bill: Draft House Bill | Draft House Report | Senate-Passed Bill | Senate Committee Report
- Other Senate Bills. The full Senate could take up H.R. 5297, a bill to provide incentives for banks to lend to small businesses. The bill does not contains any immigration-related provisions. However, like just about everything that hits the Senate floor, the measure could become the fodder for unrelated immigration enforcement amendments.
In addition to the potential floor actions listed above, the following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are ready for floor action in the Senate and could be acted upon at any time:
- Refugee Opportunity Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2960, the Refugee Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar R-IN). As approved by the Committee, S. 2960 would exempt aliens who have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are employed overseas by the Federal Government from the one-year-long physical presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Return of Talent Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2974, the "Return of Talent Act," which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). As approved by the Committee, S. 2974 would establish a new program, called the "Return of Talent Program." The new program would allow up to 1,000 aliens per year who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of their citizenship or nationality and have the time spent outside of the United States count toward towards the naturalization physical presence requirement. In order to be eliigble for the program, an alien would have to be returning to a country that is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction, and the alien would have to be "making a material contribution to reconstruction efforts" in his or her country of citizenship or nationality.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Torture Victims Relef Reauthorization Act. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has approved S. 2839, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009. As approved by the Committee, S. 2839 would authorize $25 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to assist domestic torture victims. Under the measure, funding would flow through the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would provide grants to domestic torture treatment centers and programs. In addition to authorizing funding for torture victims who reside in the United States, S. 2839 also would authorize $12 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for the president to provide grants to foreign programs and centers that treat torture victims.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week.
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated:
The White House Daily Briefings will be scheduled on a day-to-day basis.
- Speaker Pelosi Press Conference. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to hold her weekly press conference this week. Immigration questions are possible.
It is anticiapted that the Speaker's weekly press conference is expected to occur this week at 11:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 24, 2010, in the Speaker's Ceremonial Room in the U.S. Capitol Building.
It is anticipated that the Minority Leader's press conference is expected to occur at 11:45 am EDT on Thursday, June 24, 2010, in Room HVC-114 of the U.S. Capitol Building.
|
Week of June 14, 2010
This Week’s Hearings
The following hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed:
- Oversight Over the Executive Office for Immigration Review. The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine the operations of the Executive Office for Immigration Review. At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing had not yet been publicly released.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 17, 2010, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
- Oversight Hearing on SBINet. The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism and the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight have scheduled a a joint hearing titled "SBInet: Does it Pass the Border Security Test?" Witnesses at the hearing will include Randolph C. Hite, Director, IT Architecture and Systems Issues, Government Accountability Office; Mark Borkowski, Executive Director, Secure Border Initiative Program Executive Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Michael J. Fisher, Chief, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, DHS; and Timothy E. Peters, Vice President and General Manager, Global Security Systems, The Boeing Company.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 17, 2010, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.
This Week’s Markups
At the time of this writing, no markups are scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are anticipated.
This Week’s Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, the following floor actions were scheduled for this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related matters:
- Tax Extenders Bill. The Senate this week is scheduled to resume its consideration of H.R. 4213, a measure that would extend several expired or expiring tax and other programs. When the Senate resumes its consideration of the measure, a Baucus Substitute Amendment to H.R. 4213 will be the pending business. The 364 page-long Substitute Amendment contains one relatively insignificant immigration-related provision, found in section 620(a), relating to immigration fees that are used for travel promotion.
While the measure does not contain any significant mmigration-related provisions, like just about everything that hits the Senate floor, the measure could become the fodder for unrelated immigration enforcement amendments.
- Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The full House of Representatives this week could take up H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 emergency supplemental appropriations bill that is expected to contain significant refugee and immigration provisions. At the time of this writing, the precise parliamentary procedure that the House will use to take up the measure was not yet known. House floor consideration of the measure has been scheduled tentatively for Thursday, June 17.
The House Committee on Appropriations released a draft of its version of H.R. 4899 on Tuesday, May 25, and the Committee initially scheduled a markup of that draft for Thursday, May 27. However, political considerations caused the Committee to abandon its planned markup. At the time that the Committee postponed the markup, it indicated that the markup would likely be rescheduled for sometime in June. However, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) last week announced that the Commitee would abandon the markup, altogether, and that the House would, instead, take up the measure without the benefit of a markup.
From an immigration and refugee perspective, the draft House Appropriations Committee version of the supplemental appropriations bill would appropriate $500 MILLION for border security programs and activities, including $208 MILLION to hire 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents and support personnel; permit the transfer of $177.2 MILLION of funds from other accounts to pay for the deployment of additional National Guard troops; appropriate $10.6 MILLION to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) bureau to defray costs associated with providing services to Haitians in the United States who were displaced by the January earthquake; appropriate $749.3 MILLION in Economic Support Fund (ESF) funds for Haiti; and appropriate $350.7 MILLION in International Development Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti.
The Senate on May 27, 2010, approved its version of H.R. 4899. As passed by Senate, H.R. 4899 contains a supplemental appropriation of $165 MILLION in fiscal year 2010 funding for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance Account (MRA) account; $100 MILLION in Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to Jordan to help it deal with refugees; an additional appropriation of $465 MILLION in fiscal year 2010 for International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti; and an additional appropriation of $10.6 MILLION to assist in the adjudication, placement, and reception of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants.
It was unclear at the time of this writing whether the measure that the House will take up will reflect the text of the House Appropriations Committee's draft bill or it would reflect a blending of the the House and Senate bills' provisions.
Supplemental Appropriations Bill: Draft House Bill | Draft House Report | Senate-Passed Bill | Senate Committee Report
- Other House Bills. The full House of Representatives is set to take up at least two measures this week under parliamentary procedures that will permit Republicans to offer a "Motion to Recommit" (MTR) the bills back to their originating committees with instructions that the bills be modified. in some way. Republicans have on occasion used such motions as an opportunity to attach immigration enforcement provisions to bills. They could attempt to do so on these two bills, as well. However, the decision on what is in a motion to recommit often is not revealed until the motion is made.
The two bills that the House is taking up this week that could become targets for immigration-related MTRs include H.R. 5297, a bill to provide incentives for banks to lend to small businesses; and H.R. 5486, a bill that would eliminate taxes on some small-business stocks and increase deductions for start-up businesses. Neither bill contains any immigration-related provisions.
In addition to the potential floor actions listed above, the following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are ready for floor action in the Senate and could be acted upon at any time:
- Refugee Opportunity Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2960, the Refugee Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar R-IN). As approved by the Committee, S. 2960 would exempt aliens who have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are employed overseas by the Federal Government from the one-year-long physical presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Return of Talent Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2974, the "Return of Talent Act," which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). As approved by the Committee, S. 2974 would establish a new program, called the "Return of Talent Program." The new program would allow up to 1,000 aliens per year who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of their citizenship or nationality and have the time spent outside of the United States count toward towards the naturalization physical presence requirement. In order to be eliigble for the program, an alien would have to be returning to a country that is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction, and the alien would have to be "making a material contribution to reconstruction efforts" in his or her country of citizenship or nationality.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Torture Victims Relef Reauthorization Act. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has approved S. 2839, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009. As approved by the Committee, S. 2839 would authorize $25 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to assist domestic torture victims. Under the measure, funding would flow through the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would provide grants to domestic torture treatment centers and programs. In addition to authorizing funding for torture victims who reside in the United States, S. 2839 also would authorize $12 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for the president to provide grants to foreign programs and centers that treat torture victims.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week.
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated:
The White House Daily Briefings will be scheduled on a day-to-day basis.
- Trafficking in Persons Report. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; U.S. Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Luis CeBaca; and Undersecretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero have scheduled a news conference for this week, at which they will deliver remarks upon the release of the 10th Annual Trafficking in Persons Report.
The press conference is scheduled for 10:35 am EDT on Monday, June 14, 2010, at the Department of State Building in Washington, DC.
-
Religious Activism and the Debate Over Immigration Reform. The Brookings Institution has scheduled a discussion for this week titled "Religious Activism and the Debate over Immigration Reform." Participating in the discussion will be two panels. The first panel will address "how religious activism has shaped immigration reform." Panelists during that discussion will include Samuel Rodriguez, President, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; Kevin Appleby, Director of Migration Policy and Public Affairs, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop, Episcopal Church. The second panel will address "the Connection Among Ethnicity, Religiosity and Partisanship." Participants in that panel will include David Leal, Associate professor, Department of Government, University of Texas, Austin; Mark Lopez, Associate Director, Pew Hispanic Center; and Robert P. Jones, CEO, Public Religion Research Institute.
The discussion is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, in the offices of the Brookings Institution.
- DREAM Act Coalition Announcement. The Act on the DREAM Coalition has scheduled a "summit and coalition announcement" for this week Participants in the announcement will include Antonio Flores, President and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities; Gwendolyn Dungy, Executive Director of NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education; and George Boggs, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges.
The announcement is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, June 16, 2010, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
- Speaker Pelosi Press Conference. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to hold her weekly press conference this week. Immigration questions are possible.
It is anticiapted that the Speaker's weekly press conference is expected to occur this week at 11:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 17, 2010, in the Speaker's Ceremonial Room in the U.S. Capitol Building.
It is anticipated that the Minority Leader's press conference is expected to occur at 11:45 am EDT on Thursday, June 17, 2010, in Room HVC-114 of the U.S. Capitol Building.
- Remarks by Secretary Napolitano. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano is scheduled to make remarks this week at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy Convention.
Secretary Napolitano's remarks are scheduled for 1:15 pm EDT on Friday, June 18, 2010, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.
- Remarks by Representative Linda Sanchez. Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) is scheduled to make remarks this week at the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy Convention.
Secretary Napolitano's remarks are scheduled for 5:00 pm EDT on Friday, June 18, 2010, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.
- Plenary on Immigration Reform. The American Constitution Society for Law and Policy has scheduled a plenary this week on the subject of "Immigration Reform: Congress and the States" during its annual convention.
The ACS plenary is scheduled for 5:30 pm EDT on Friday, June 18, 2010, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC.
|
Week of June 7, 2010
The House returns from its Memorial Day recess on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, convening at 2:00 pm EDT.
The Senate returns from its Memorial Day recess on Monday, June 7, 2010, convening at 2:00 pm EDT
This Week’s Hearings
The following hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed:
-
Hearing on U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation. The House Committee Foreign Affairs has scheduled a hearing titled "Human Rights and Democracy Assistance: Increasing the Effectiveness of U.S. Foreign Aid." Witnesses at the hearing will include: Jennifer L. Windsor, executive director, Freedom House Thomas Carothers, Vice President for Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Elisa Massimino, President and CEO, Human Rights First.
The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Thursday, June 10, 2010, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
This Week’s Markups
The following markups are scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are possible:
- Fiscal Year 2010 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. The House Committee on Appropriations this week could markup its draft version of H.R. 4899, an emegency supplemental appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010. From an immigration and refugee perspective, the draft version of the measure would appropriate $500 MILLION for border security programs and activities, including $208 MILLION to hire 1,200 additional Border Patrol agents and support personnel; permit the transfer of $177.2 MILLION of funds from other accounts to pay for the deployment of additional National Guard troops; appropriate $10.6 MILLION to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) bureau to defray costs associated with providing services to Haitians in the United States who were displaced by the January earthquake; appropriate $749.3 MILLION in Economic Support Fund (ESF) funds for Haiti; and appropriate $350.7 MILLION in International Development Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti.
The markup was previously scheduled to occur on Thursday, May 27, 2010. However, it was abruptly canceled at the last minute. It is unclear at the time of this writing whether a markup will be rescheduled or if the House will forgo a markup of the measure and seek to move it in some other manner.
Should a markup of the measure be rescheduled for this week, the markup would occur in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
House Appropriations Committee Draft Supplemental Appropriations Bill: Text | Report | Summary | Chart
This Week’s Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, no floor actions were scheduled for this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related matters.
That being said, under the rules and practices of the Senate, virtually any measure that is being considered on the Senate floor could become the target of an amendment on virtually any subject. The Senate this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 4213, a measure that would extend several expired or expiring tax and other programs. While the measure does not contain any immigration-related provisions, like just about everything that hits the Senate floor, it could become the fodder for unrelated immigration enforcement amendments.
Notwithstanding the fact that no floor actions on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are scheduled this week, the following measures are ready for floor action in the Senate and could be acted upon at any time:
- Refugee Opportunity Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2960, the Refugee Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar R-IN). As approved by the Committee, S. 2960 would exempt aliens who have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are employed overseas by the Federal Government from the one-year-long physical presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Return of Talent Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2974, the "Return of Talent Act," which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). As approved by the Committee, S. 2974 would establish a new program, called the "Return of Talent Program." The new program would allow up to 1,000 aliens per year who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of their citizenship or nationality and have the time spent outside of the United States count toward towards the naturalization physical presence requirement. In order to be eliigble for the program, an alien would have to be returning to a country that is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction, and the alien would have to be "making a material contribution to reconstruction efforts" in his or her country of citizenship or nationality.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Torture Victims Relef Reauthorization Act. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has approved S. 2839, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009. As approved by the Committee, S. 2839 would authorize $25 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to assist domestic torture victims. Under the measure, funding would flow through the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would provide grants to domestic torture treatment centers and programs. In addition to authorizing funding for torture victims who reside in the United States, S. 2839 also would authorize $12 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for the president to provide grants to foreign programs and centers that treat torture victims.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week.
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated:
The White House Daily Briefings will be scheduled on a day-to-day basis.
- Contribution of Immigrants to the U.S. Economy. The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has scheduled a discussion for this week titled, "Immigrants: Contributors to the Economy or Competitors for American Jobs?" Participating in the discussion will be Giovanni Peri, University of California, Davis professor of economics; Ross Eisnbery, Vice President of the Economic Policy Institute; and MPI President Demetrios Papademetriou.
The discussion is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Monday, June 7, 2010, at the Migration Policy Institute's Washington, DC Office.
- News Conference on U.S.-Mexico Border Issues. The Immigration Policy Center has scheduled a telephone news conference titled "Reality at the US-Mexico Border: The Real Sources of Violence and How We Can Best Respond." Participating in the discussion will be Jennifer Bernal Garcia, Center for New American Security; Aarti Kohli, Warren Institute, California State University at Berkeley; David A. Shirk, Trans-Border Institute, University of San Diego; and Benjamin Johnson (moderator), American Immigration Council.
The news conference is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 7, 2010.
- Immigration, Jobs, and the Economy. The Woodrow Wilson Center (WWC) has scheduled a discussion for this week titled, "Immigration, Jobs and the Economy." Participating in the discussion will be Tamar Jacoby, President and CEO of ImmigrationWorks; and Giovanni Peri, Associate Professor at the Department of Economics at the University of California, Davis.
The Woodrow Wilson Center discussion is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, in the Woodrow Wilson Center's Washington, DC offices.
- Possible Solutions for Refugees and IDPs. The Migration Policy Institute has scheduled a breakfast briefing to discuss possible solutions for refugees and IDPs. Participating in the discussion will include T. Alexander Aleinikoff, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees; Demetrios G. Papademetriou, MPI President; and Kathleen Newland, MPI Director of the Migrants, Migration, and Development, and Refugee Policy Programs.
The briefing is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Wednesday, June 9, 2010, in the Washington, DC offices of the Migration Policy Institute.
- Speaker Pelosi Press Conference. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is expected to hold her weekly press conference this week. Immigration questions are possible.
It is anticiapted that the Speaker's weekly press conference is expected to occur this week at 11:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 10, 2010, in the Speaker's Ceremonial Room in the U.S. Capitol Building.
It is anticipated that the Minority Leader's press conference is expected to occur at 11:45 am EDT on Thursday, June 10, 2010, in Room HVC-114 of the U.S. Capitol Building.
|
Week of May 31, 2010
This Week’s Hearings
The House of Representatives and Senate are in the midst of their Memorial Day recess.
No committee hearings are scheduled this week on immigration- or refugee-related matters.
This Week’s Markups
The House of Representatives and Senate are in the midst of their Memorial Day recess.
No committee actions are scheduled this week on measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions.
This Week’s Floor Activity
The House of Representatives and Senate are in the midst of their Memorial Day recess.
No floor action on immigration- or refugee-related actions will occur during the Memorial Day recess.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week.
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week
- White House Daily Briefing. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is scheduled to hold his White House Daily Briefings throughout the week. Questions on immigration issues are likely.
The White House Daily Briefings will be scheduled on a day-to-day basis.
- Arizona Governor Meeting with President Obama Over Border Security. Governor Jan Brewer (R-AZ) is scheduled to meet with President Barack Obama to discuss border security issues. The President and Governor are expected, as well, to discuss Arizona's controversial new immigration enforcement. law.
The meeting between President Obama and Governor Brewer is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Thursday, June 3, 2010, in the Oval Office at the White House.
|
Week of May 24, 2010
This Week’s Hearings
The following hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed:
-
Hearing on U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation. The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism and the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemishpere have scheduled a joint hearing for this week titled, "U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation: Next Steps for the Merida Initiative." Witnesses at the hearing will include: Roberta Jacobson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs; Mariko Silver, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Policy, Office of International Affairs; Alonzo Pena, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Shannon K. O'Neil, Fellow for Latin America Studies, Council on Foreign Relations; and Bill McDonald, Rancher, Douglas, Arizona.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, May 27, 2010, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.
This Week’s Markups
The following markups are scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are possible:
- Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Authorization Act. The Senate Committee on Armed Services has scheduled a markup for this week of the yet-to-be-introduced National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. While the measure is not expected to have any immigration-related provisions in it as placed before the Commitee, it is possible that Committee members will offer amendments to the measure during the course of the markup relating to use of U.S. armed forces or material along the U.S. border with Mexico.
The markup is scheduled to begin at 2:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, in Room SR-222 of the Russell Senate Office Building. It is expected to continue at 9:30 am EDT on Thursday, May 27, 2010, and at 9:30 am EDT on Friday, May 28, 2010, if necessary, in the same room number.
This Week’s Floor Activity
The following floor actions relating to significant immigration- or refugee-related matters could come up during today's Senate floor session:
- Fiscal Year 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Bill. The full Senate this week is expected to take up the Senate Appropriations Committee-reported version of H.R. 4899, a bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for disaster relief and summer jobs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. As reported to the full Senate, H.R. 4899 contains a supplemental appropriation of $165 MILLION in fiscal year 2010 funding for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance Account (MRA) account; $100 MILLION in Economic Support Fund (ESF) assistance to Jordan to help it deal with refugees; an additional appropriation of $465 MILLION in fiscal year 2010 for International Disaster Assistance (IDA) funds for Haiti; and an additional appropriation of $10.6 MILLION to assist in the adjudication, placement, and reception of Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants. The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the measure on Thursday, May 13, 2010, by a vote of 30-0, ordering it to be reported to the full Senate and readying it for consideration by the full Senate.
It is likely that the Senate will face one or more immigration enforcement or border security amendments during its consideration of H.R. 4899.
The Senate is expected to begin consideration of H.R. 4899 at 3:00 pm EDT on Monday, May 24, 2010, and it is anticipated that it will have the bill under consideration throughout the remainder of the week.
- Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Authorization Act. The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. While the measure does not have any immigration-related provisions in it as iit was reported to the full House of Representatives, it is possible that Members will seek to offer amendments to the measure relating to use of U.S. armed forces or material along the U.S. border with Mexico.
At the time of this writing, the House is expected to take up H.R. 5136 on Wednesday, May 26, 2010.
- Potential Vote on the E-Verify System. Pro-Immigrant advocates are bracing yet again this week for a potential vote on the E-Verify system. They speculate that such a vote could be held when the House makes its third attempt in as many weeks to pass H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, to the House floor. That measure would reauthorize funding for several science, technology, education, mathematics, and engineering programs.
The House first took up H.R. 5116 during the week of May 10, 2010. However, the Leadership pulled the bill from the floor before a final vote could be held because a hostile motion to recommit the bill to the originating committee was adopted. The House next took up the measure during the week of May 17, 2010, voting on a revised version of the measure. However, House Republicans defeated the measure, which was brought up under parliamentary procedures that required it pass by a two-thirds or better vote. The House Democratic Leadership now is considering bringing up the bill for a third time on Thursday, May 27 2010.
Pro-immigrant advocates speculate that Representative Brian Bilbray (R-CA), Chairman of the immigration restrictionist-oriented Immigration Reform Caucus, may seek to offer an E-Verify-related motion to recommit the new version of H.R. 5116 should the Leadership, as it has promised, bring the bill up this week.
In addition to the potential actions listed above, three other measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions could see floor action this week in the Senate:
- Refugee Opportunity Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2960, the Refugee Opportunity Act, which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Judiciary Commitee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar R-IN). As approved by the Committee, S. 2960 would exempt aliens who have been admitted as refugees or granted asylum and are employed overseas by the Federal Government from the one-year-long physical presence requirement for adjustment of status to that of aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Return of Talent Act. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has approved S. 2974, the "Return of Talent Act," which was introduced in the Senate by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Republican Richard Lugar (R-IN) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT). As approved by the Committee, S. 2974 would establish a new program, called the "Return of Talent Program." The new program would allow up to 1,000 aliens per year who are legally present in the United States to return temporarily to the country of their citizenship or nationality and have the time spent outside of the United States count toward towards the naturalization physical presence requirement. In order to be eliigble for the program, an alien would have to be returning to a country that is engaged in post-conflict or natural disaster reconstruction, and the alien would have to be "making a material contribution to reconstruction efforts" in his or her country of citizenship or nationality.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
- Torture Victims Relef Reauthorization Act. The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has approved S. 2839, the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 2009. As approved by the Committee, S. 2839 would authorize $25 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 to assist domestic torture victims. Under the measure, funding would flow through the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which would provide grants to domestic torture treatment centers and programs. In addition to authorizing funding for torture victims who reside in the United States, S. 2839 also would authorize $12 MILLION in each of fiscal years 2011 and 2012 for the president to provide grants to foreign programs and centers that treat torture victims.
If the measure is taken up by the Senate, it likely would be taken up by unanimous consent. That cannot happen until the measure has been cleared by the Senate Democratic and Republican Cloakrooms.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are the subjects of conference committee action this week.
Off of the House and Senate Floors
At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- and refugee-related legislative matters are anticipated:
-
White House Daily Briefings. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is expected to conduct his daily briefing each day this week except Tuesday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 26, when the President is expected to be out of Washington.
The White House Daily Briefings are expected to take place daily throughout the week at the White House.
The reception is scheduled for Monday, May 24, 2010, at the White House.
It is anticiapted that the Speaker's weekly press conference will occur this week at 11:00 am EDT on Thursday, May 27, 2010, in the Speaker's Ceremonial Room in the U.S. Capitol Building.
It is anticipated that the Minority Leader's press conference will occur at 11:45 am EDT on Thursday, May 20, 2010, in Room HVC-114 of the U.S. Capitol Building.
|
Week of May 17, 2010
This Week’s Hearings
The following hearings are scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be discussed:
-
Hearing on Drug Trafficking in Mexico and Colombia. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Drug Enforcement and the Rule of Law: Mexico and Colombia." Witnesses at the hearing will include: Panel I - Lanny A. Breuer, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice; and David T. Johnson, Assistant Aecretary of State, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. Panel II - Lawrence Wasden, Attorney General, State of Idaho, Boise, Idaho; Gary King, Attorney General, State of New Mexico, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Jose Miguel Vivanco, Director, Americas Division, Human Rights Watch; and Maria Elena Morera, Executive Drector Causa en Comun, Mexico City.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, May 18, 2010, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
-
Hearing on the Refugee Protection Act of 2010. The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Renewing America's Commitment to the Refugee Convention: The Refugee Protection Act of 2010." At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing had not yet been finalized.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
-
Viewpoints on Homeland Security from the 9/11 Commission Commissioners. The House Committee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Viewpoints on Homeland Security: A Discussion with the 9/11 Commissioners." Scheduled to testify at this week's hearing are Former Governor Thomas Kean (R-NJ), former chairman; and former Representative Lee Hamilton, (D-IN), former commission vice-chairman of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.
- Oversight Hearing on U.S. Customs Operations. The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade has scheduled an oversight hearing for this week on customs operations administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing had not yet been finalized.
The hearing is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Thursday, May 20, 2010, in Room 1100 of the Longworth House Office Building.
This Week’s Markups
The following markups are scheduled for this week at which action on significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are possible:
- Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Authorization Act. The House Committee on Armed Services has scheduled a markup for this week on H.R. 5136, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011. While the measure does not have any immigration-related provisions in it as introduced, it is possible that Committee members will offer amendments to the measure during the course of the markup relating to use of U.S. armed forces or material along the U.S. border with Mexico.
The markup is scheduled to begin at 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, May 19, 2010, in Room 2118 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
This Week’s Floor Activity
The following floor actions relating to significant immigration- or refugee-related matters could come up during today's Senate floor session:
- Border Fencing Amendment to Financial Regulatory Reform Bill. The Senate this week is expected to continue consideration of S. 3217, the "Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010’’. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) has filed an amendment to the measure that would require the completion within a year of 700 miles of double-layered fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico. The Senator could seek to offer the amendment at any time, either as a first degree amendment or as a second degree amendment to some other amendment.
Senator DeMint's border fencing amendment, which originally was submitted as Senate Amendment 3852, is one of more than 300 that had been filed to the financial regulatory reform bill as of Friday, May 14.
Last week, Senator DeMint offered a version of his border fencing amendment as a second degree amendment to an amendment on secret holds that was authored by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR). Senator Wyden withdrew his underlying amendment rather than forcing a Senate vote on the DeMint amendment.
- Address by the President of Mexico to a Joint Meeting of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The House of Representatives and Senate have scheduled a joint meeting for this week to receive an address from Mexican President Felipe Calderon.
The Joint meeting of the House and Senate is scheduled for 11:00 am EDT on Thursday, May 20, 2010.
| |
|
|
