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AIN Leaders Reaffirm Support of
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Arizona Interfaith Network Immigration Strategy Team meets in Phoenix to hear stories of challenges facing immigrants across Arizona and to discuss plans for increased education in their communities.
Legislative Update as of 6/15/07
The United States Senate is seeking to move a comprehensive immigration reform bill by the beginning of the July 4th Recess on June 29. The Senate leadership has reached an agreement for another 30 hours of debate during which 22 amendments, eleven from each party, will be debated and voted upon. The specifics of these amendments are still being drafted. Some believe that these amendments will not dramatically alter the current draft of the S1348.
In order to move debate forward, a cloture vote must be approved by at least 60 Senators. After that it takes only 51 Senators to pass the bill. It appears that the Republicans are now evenly split between continuing the debate and taking no action. Passage is by no means guaranteed when the final vote is taken, probably on Tuesday, June 26.
Attention has already begun to turn to the House which may take up the debate as early as July 9. This assumes, of course, that the Senate has passed S1348 by then. The House will be making their amendments to S1348 rather than starting with the STRIVE Act as introduced. The House may take the bill through the House Sub-Committee on Immigration, the House Judiciary Committee and then to a House floor debate with a final vote by August 3. On that date the District Work Recess, which runs through Labor Day, begins. House members do not want to go home with an immigration reform bill still hanging out there and face the anger of the extremes on the right and left. Despite Democrats being in the majority in the House, Speaker Pelosi claims that at least 70 Republican votes will be needed for passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill due to the number of Democrats who have declared their opposition. Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake puts that number closer to 50.
If this scenario comes to pass, a House/Senate Conference Committee will meet after Labor Day to resolve differences with final passage possibly occurring in September. The active involvement of President Bush means that he is likely to sign the bill shortly thereafter.
Whatever the final version of the bill, it is guaranteed to satisfy no one completely. All positions have already been compromised with more likely to come. The Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform, represented by AIN in Arizona, continues to fight for a bill that brings 12 million immigrants out of the shadows, respects families through family unification, respects workers and their rights, and responds to the workforce needs of employers.
AIN calls on all interested individuals and organizations to renew the push for comprehensive immigration reform by calling and e-mailing their Senators and Congressmen.
Please call your two Senators
and your Congressperson
TODAY!
Message: My name is _______. I live in _______. I urge you to vote for a
comprehensive immigration reform bill that brings 12 million immigrants out
of the shadows, respects families through family unification, respects
workers and their rights, and responds to the workforce needs of employers.
Senate
Jon Kyl
DC: 202-224-4521
Phoenix: 602-840-1891
Tucson: 520-575-8633
John McCain
DC: 202-224-2235
Phoenix: 602-952-2410
Tempe: 480-897-6289
Tucson: 520-670-6334
House
CD 1 - Rick Renzi
DC: 202-225-2315
Casa Grande: 520-876-0929
Prescott: 928-708-9120
Show Low: 928-537-2800
Flagstaff: 928-213-3434
CD 2 - Trent Franks
DC: 202-225-4576
Glendale: 623-776-7911
CD 3 - John Shadegg
DC: 202-225-3361
Phoenix: 602-263-5300
CD 4 - Ed Pastor
DC: 202-225-4065
Phoenix: 602-256-0551
CD 5 - Harry Mitchell
DC: 202-225-2190
Tempe
CD 6 - Jeff Flake
DC: 202-225-2635
Mesa: 480-833-6314
CD 7 - Raul Grijalva
DC: 202-225-2435
Tucson: 520-622-6788
Yuma: 929-343-7933
CD 8 - Gabrielle Giffords
DC: 202-225-2542
Tucson: 520-322-9490
Sierra Vista: 520-459-5419
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