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Congress Faces an Eclectic Pre-Independence Day Recess Immigration- and Refugee-Related Legislative Schedule as it Awaits a Supreme Court Decision on Arizona's S.B. 1070
By Micheal E. Hill
Friday, June 22, 2012 -- 8:00 pm EDT
After two weeks of unusually busy immigration- and refugee-related legislative activity, the House and Senate face an eclectic immigration-related legislative schedule during the week to come as they await what almost certainly will be a decision by the Supeme Court of the United States during the week to come in the case of Arizona v. United States, relating to the constitutionality of Arizona's S.B. 1070 immigration enforcement law.
A Supreme Court decision on the Arizona case is expected to come on either Monday, June 25th, or Wednesday or Thursday, June 26th or 27th. Whichever way the Court decides in the case of Arizona v. United States, the decision is likely to prompt a swift legislative response.
Apart from the impending action in the Supreme Court on S.B. 1070, actions occurring during the week-to-come include possible immigration-related amendments during House floor consideration of two appropriations bills; markups of a four immigration-related bills in such varied committees as the House Committee on Foriegn Affairs, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Following the close of business during the week-to-come, both the House and Senate will begin a week-long Independence Day recess.
On-the-Hill Activity
At the time of this writing, no immigration- or refugee-related hearings, markups of four immigration- or refugee-related measures (or of meaures that could become a target for immigration- or refugee-related amendments), and floor action on two that could become the target of significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions or amendments are scheduled during the coming week.
The following lists the highlights of coming week's immigration- or refugee-related legislative-related action:
Floor Action
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Full House Could Take Up FY '13 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The full House of Representatives during the week of June 25, 2012, could take up H.R. 5973, the Fiscal Year 2013 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. While the House Appropriations Committee-reported version of the measure does not contain any immigration-related provisions in it, the measure but which could become the target for such amendments on the House floor.
At the time of this writing, it was not known precisely when the House will take up the measure.
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Full House Could Take Up FY '13 Housing Appropriations Bill. The full House of Representatives during the week of June 25, 2012, could take up H.R. 5972, the Fiscal Year 2013 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. While the House Appropriations Committee-reported version of the measure does not contain any immigration-related provisions in it, the measure could become the target for such amendments on the House floor.
Markups
- House Foreign Affairs Committee to Mark Up Bill that Authorizes Funding for Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance. The House Committee on Foreign Affairs has scheduled a markup for the week of June 25 of the yet-to-be-introduced Foreign Relations Authorization Bill. Sometimes called the State Department Authorization Bill, the measure traditionally authorizes appropriations for the foreign policy activities of the U.S. Department of State, including the refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance programs, accounts, and activities that are administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.
- Senate Homeland Security Committee to Markup of Trafficking Bill. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a markup for the week of June 25 of S. 2234, the "End Trafficking in Government Contracting Act of 2012". As introduced, the measure contains a number of provisions designed to deter and prevent human trafficking by government contractors.
- Senate Homeland Security Committee to Mark Up Border Enforcement Security Task Force Bill. The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a markup for the week of June 25 of H.R. 915, the "Jamie Zapata Border Enforcement Security Task Force Act".
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House Appropriations Committee to Markup FY '13 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill. The House Committee on Appropriations has scheduled a markup for the week of June 25 of its draft Fiscal Year 2013 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which has no immigration-related provisions in it but which could become the target for immigration-related amendments.
Hearings
- No immigration- or refugee-related hearings scheduled
"Off-of-the-Hill" Activity
In addition to "on the Hill" immigration- and refugee-related action that is scheduled for the coming week, a number of significant "off of the Hill" immigration- and refugee-related activities also could occur.
The following lists several highlights of the coming week's "off-of-the-Hill" immigration- and refugee-related legislative-related action:
- Supreme Court Ruling. The Supreme Court of the United States could convene as many as two times during the week to come to announce rulings in a number of cases that were argued before it during the 2011/2012 term. Among the decisions that could be announced as soon as today is the Court's ruling in the case of Arizona v. United States, regarding the constitutionality of Arizona's SB 1070 immigration enforcement law.
- Press Conferencce on Swing State Voters' Attitude on Immigration. The Quinnipiac University Polling Institute has scheduled a news conference for the week of June 25 to discuss the results of Swing State polls conducted simultaneously in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania, asking voters their opinions about immigration, the economy and the matchup between President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney. Participants in the news conference will include Peter Brown, Assistant Director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
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Forum on Need for High-Tech Students. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers of the United States (IEEE-USA) have scheduled a forum for the week of June 25 titled, "A Spark Deferred: The Impact of ITAR and Immigration Policy on the Future of America's Technology Sector," examining "barriers existing in the current student visa system and in the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) regime that restrict foreign students from working in high-value research areas and within the U.S. technology sector, and how these barriers limit future growth in these sections, imperiling the U.S. economy and national security."
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Discussion on Building a Progressive Movement. The Center for American Progress (CAP) has scheduled a discussion for the week of June 25 titled, "Building a Powerful Progressive Movement," examining how "in the past year, progressive activists have successfully pushed the President to address economic inequality and job creation, embrace gay marriage, and stop the deportation of young undocumented immigrants." Participants in the discussion will include Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director of the Center for Community Change.
- White House Daily Briefings. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is scheduled to conduct daily briefings every day during the coming week, at which he will field questions from the White House press corps, including possible questions on immigration- and refugee-related matters.
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of June 25, 2012
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of June 18, 2012
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of June 11, 2012
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of June 4, 2012
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of May 28, 2012
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of May 21, 2012
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of May 14, 2012
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of May 7, 2012
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of April 30, 2012
Detailed Listing of the Likely Immigration Actions For the Week of April 23, 2012
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