Comprehensive Immigration Reform

U.S. Congress will debate Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CIR) before this summer.  Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated that if he does not get a final bill for debate, there will not be another opportunity for a full-scale debate until 2008; i.e. until the next president is sworn into office in 2009!

At the same time, our reliable friends have re-introduced the Uniting American Families Act. This bill would allow citizens and legal residents in same-sex relationships to sponsor their partners for immigration purposes.  The following is a list of co-sponsors of this bill.  Along with sponsor Representative Nadler, original cosponsors of the House bill (H.R. 2221) include: Representatives Abercrombie (D-HI), Ackerman (D-NY), Allen (D-ME), Baldwin (D-WI), Becerra (D-CA), Berkley (D-NV), Berman (D-CA), Capps (D-CA), Capuano (D-MA), Clarke (D-NY), Clay (D-MO), Conyers (D-MI), Crowley (D-NY), Cummings (D-MD), Davis, S. (D-CA), DeGette (D-CO), Delahunt (D-MA), Doyle (D-PA), Ellison (D-MN), Engel (D-NY), Eshoo (D-CA), Fattah (D-PA), Farr (D-CA), Filner (D-CA), Frank, B. (D-MA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Gutierrez (D-IL), Hinchey (D-NY), Hirono (D-HI), Honda (D-CA), Inslee (D-WA), Jackson, J. (D-IL), Kennedy, P. (D-RI), Kucinich (D-OH), Langevin (D-RI), Lantos (D-CA), Lee (D-CA), Lewis, John (D-GA), Maloney, C. (D-NY), Markey (D-MA), Matsui, D. (D-CA), McDermott (D-WA), McGovern (D-MA), McNulty, M. (D-NY), Meehan (D-MA), Miller, George (D-CA), Moran, James (D-VA), Napolitano (D-CA), Neal, R. (D-MA), Norton (D-DC), Olver (D-MA), Pallone (D-NJ), Payne, D. (D-NJ), Rothman (D-NJ), Sanchez, Linda (D-CA), Schakowsky (D-IL), Schiff (D-CA), Serrano (D-NY), Shays (R-CT), Solis (D-CA), Stark, P. (D-CA), Tierney (D-MA), Wasserman-Schultz (D-FL), Waxman (D-CA), Weiner (D-NY), Wexler (D-FL), Woolsey (D-CA), and Wu (D-OR).

Please make time to thank each and every of the co-sponsors listed via email.  You may do that by calling the main congressional switchboard, which is (202) 224-3121.  Also, if there is a name which you don’t see, please call and ask for their support.

Folks, the time to demand CIR is now.  The White House has already stated its support.  Just pick up the phone and call your Congressperson and demand action.

Any questions, just call my office at 323-857-0034.