Restitution for Separated Families Victims of Trump’s illegal family separation policy would receive restitution in the form of a legal pathway to citizenship if H.R. 883, Families Belong Together Act were to pass. This legislation would adjust the status of any victim of separation, adult or child, whether or not they have been repatriated to their country of origin, to “alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence.” The bill was introduced by Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) and is cosponsored by six other Democrats. The bill has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Action: Contact your Member of Congress and ask them to cosponsor H.R. 883, Families Belong Together Act. If they are already a cosponsor, thank them. If your MoC is on the House Judiciary Committee, let them know that you want this bill to quickly be brought to the House for a full vote. Drugs from Canada, Part 2 In addition to the House bill, H.R. 478, Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2019 which we acted on yesterday, there is a similar bill in the Senate, introduced by Chuch Grassley (R-IA) and cosponsored by nine Democrats and one Independent, S. 61, also called Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2019. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Action: Contact your Senators, and ask them to cosponsor S. 61, the Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2019. If one of your Senators is already a co-sponsor, thank them. If your Senator sits on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to which the bill has been referred, tell them you are anxious to see this legislation brought before the Senate for a full vote. Drugs from Canada Prescription drugs in Canada are much more affordable than in the U.S.A. Currently it is illegal to import prescription drugs from Canada to the U.S. for personal use. There is a bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee which would allow individuals to import safe drugs from Canada for their personal use. While this is just a stop-gap solution until we can get our own house in order and stop the ridiculous and escalating gouging of the consumer by drug companies, it would nevertheless provide some people with a means of acquiring more affordable medication. Action: Contact your Member of Congress and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 478, Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act of 2019. If your MoC is already a co-sponsor, thank them. If your MoC sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to which the bill has been referred, tell them you are anxious to see this legislation brought before the House for a full vote. Release Manual Zhinin Manual Zhinin was arrested by ICE and is being held 1,000 miles from his wife and daughter. Action: Sign the United We Dream petition to ICE asking for his release. http://actionnetwork.org/petitions/tell-ice-release-manuel-zhinin-now Senate to Block Emergency With four GOP senators pledging to vote with the Democrats to block Trump’s fake emergency, the resolution looks set to pass 51 - 49. Rand Paul (R-KY) is the most recent to join the yes votes, saying, “I can't vote to give the president the power to spend money that hasn't been appropriated by Congress. We may want more money for border security, but Congress didn't authorize it. If we take away those checks and balances, it's a dangerous thing." Action: If your senator is a Republican, let them know that you want them to join their four GOP colleagues (Collins, Murkowski, Tillis and Paul) in voting for the resolution to block the national emergency. If your Senator is one of the four, thank them. If both your senators are Democrats, thank one of the four GOP Senators who have pledged to vote in favor of the resolution. www.senate.gov/senators/index.htm Money Down the Drain Everyone - including the GOP - knows that the Wall is a bunch of baloney, and that it would be scandalous to divert military funding to the president’s vanity project from actual, serious, strategic objectives. The truth is that the situation at the border is better than it’s ever been, with illegal crossings at an all-time low in 2017, down by 80% from 2000. Action: If your representatives are Republican, contact them and express your concern that important military objectives will be set aside in order to fund the president’s vanity project. If they’re Democrat, you should still let them know you want to stop any funding diversion for the Wall. www.senate.gov/senators/index.htm www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvPpAPIIZyo |
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November 2019
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