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This Week on the Hill -- Current Edition

Week of September 5, 2011 House and Senate Return from a Month-Long Recess Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and Committee to Mark Up FY '12 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill Secretary Clinton to Consult with House and Senate Judiciary Committees on FY '12 Refugee Admissions House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on Agricultural Guest Worker Bill House Homeland Security to Hold Hearing on the Aftermath of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the United States This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters could be discussed: House Homeland Security Committee Hearing on the Aftermath of the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks on the United States: The House Committee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "The Attacks of September 11th: Where Are We Today." The witness list for the hearing includes Lee Hamilton, former Vice Chairman, National Commisssion on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States; Tom J. Ridge, former Secretary of Homeland Security; and Comptroller General of the U.S. Eugene Dodaro of the Government Accountability Office. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Judiciary Panel Hearing on Agricultural Guest Worker Bill: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a hearing for this week on the "American Specialty Agriculture Act." At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing had not yet been publicly released. Witnesses at the hearing will include Lee Wicker, Deputy Director, North Carolina Growers Association; Chalmers Carr, President and CEO, Titan Farms, S.C.; Dan Fazio, Director, Washington Farm Labor Association; and Robert Williams, Dattorney, Florida Legal Services. The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in Room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Foreign Affairs Panel to Hold Hearing on the Humanitarian Crisis in East Africa: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights has scheduled a hearing for this week titled "Addressing the Humanitarian Emergency in East Africa." Witnesses at the hearing will include Rajakumari Jandhyala, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Africa, U.S. Agency for International Development; Katherine Zimmerman, Leader, Gulf of Aden Team, Critical Threats Project, American Enterprise Institute; Kent Hill, Senior Vice President for International Affairs, World Vision; and Shannon Scribner, Humanitarian Policy Manager, Oxfam America. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Senate Appropriations Committee Panel to Mark Up Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security this week is scheduled to mark up its version of the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill includes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, including its three immigration-related bureaus: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CPB), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The subcommittee markup is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, September 6, 2011, in Room SD-138 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Full Senate Appropriations Committee to Mark Up Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: The full Senate Committee on Appropriations could this week is scheduled to mark up its version of the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill includes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, including its three immigration-related bureaus: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CPB), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The full committee markup is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, in Room SD-106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction Meeting: The newly formed Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction has scheduled its first meeting for this week. The Committee is expected to entertain opening statements from its members and adopt its rules. The meeting is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Thursday, September 8, 2011, in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Appropriations Subcommittee to Mark Up Fiscal Year 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Bill: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies has scheduled a markup for this week of its version of the Fiscal year 2012 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. Each year, the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, which administers the federal government's refugee resettlement, unaccompanied alien children, trafficking victim assistance, and torture victim assistance functions. The Subcommittee markup is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Friday, September 9, 2011, in Room 2358-B of the Rayburn House Office Building.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences:       This Week's Conference Committee Activity The following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees: Differences in Differing Versions of the FY '12 Military Construction Appropriations Bill: While no action had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, the House and Senate could at any time constitute a conference committee to iron out differences between the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 2055, the FY '12 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The House of Representatives passed its version of H.R. 2055 on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. The Senate pass its version on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The most significant immigration-related difference between the two bills is a provision contained in the House-passed version of the bill that was stripped from the Senate-passed measure. The provision, found in Section 414 of the House-passed measure, would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees. There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure. No conference meeting is expected to occur during this week.   Off of the House and Senate Floors At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Briefing on Agricultural Guest Worker Issues: Representatives Howard C. Berman (D-CA), Joe Baca (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), and Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) have organized a briefing for this week to unveil a report by the Farmworker Justice Fund titled, "No Way to Treat a Guest: Why the H-2A Agricultural Visa Program Fails U.S. and Foreign Workers." Participants in the briefing will include Bruce Goldstein, President Farmworker Justice; Saket Soni, Director, National Guestworkers' Alliance; and Andrea Zuniga DiBitetto, Legislative Representative, AFL-CIO. The briefing is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, in Room HC-8 of the U.S. Capitol Building. News Conference on the Immigration Views of the 2012 GOP Presidential Candidates: America's Voice has scheduled a telephonic press conference for this week to discuss the immigration views of the 2012 candidates for the Republican presidential nomination. The telephonic press conference is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, September 7, 2011. Fiscal Year 2012 Refugee Consultation: The leadership of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees could meet as soon as this week with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for the annual refugee consultation. The refugee consultation must take place and the President of the United States must issue a Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions before any refugees can be admitted to the United States during fiscal year 2012. The refugee consultation is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, September 8, 2011. Disussion on Border Security After 9/11: The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars has scheduled a discussion for this week titled "Border Security Challenges After 9/11: A Conversation with Three Commissioners of U.S. Customs and Border Protection." Participants in the discussion will include Commissioner Alan Bersin of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) and former commissioners Robert Bonner and Ralph Basham. The discussion is scheduled for 11:00 am EDT on Friday, September 9, 2011, in the 6th Floor, Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, DC.

Weeks of August 8 - August 29, 2011 The House and Senate are in the Midst of a Month-Long August Recess This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, no hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined. This Week’s Markups At the time of this writing, no markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences.   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences:       This Week's Conference Committee Activity The following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees: Differences in Differing Versions of the FY '12 Military Construction Appropriations Bill: While no action had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, the House and Senate could at any time constitute a conference committee to iron out differences between the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 2055, the FY '12 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The House of Representatives passed its version of H.R. 2055 on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. The Senate pass its version on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The most significant immigration-related difference between the two bills is a provision contained in the House-passed version of the bill that was stripped from the Senate-passed measure. The provision, found in Section 414 of the House-passed measure, would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees. There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure. No conference meeting is expected to occur during the August Recess.   Off of the House and Senate Floors At the time of this writing, no "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week.

Week of August 1, 2011 House and Senate Plan Action on Extension of Debt Limit House Appropriations to Mark Up FY '12 Bill that Funds Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance House to Take Up Bill Reviving the H-1C Nonimmigrant Nurses Program House to Take Up Bill Easing Immigration Plight of Some Servicemembers and Their Spouses Senate Foreign Relations Panel to Hold Hearing on the Famine and Drought in the Horn of Africa Congress to Begin Month-Long August Recess Upon Close of Business This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: Senate Foreign Relations Panel to Hold a Hearing on Drought and Famine in the Horn of Africa:  The Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week on drought and famine in the Horn of Africa.  Witnesses and briefers at the hearing will include Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator, Bureau of Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development; Donald Yamamoto, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs; Reuben Brigety, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration; Robert Laprade, Denior Director, CARE USA; Jeremy Konyndyk, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Mercy Corps; J. Peter Pham, Director, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, Atlantic Council; and Afshan Khan, Director of Public-Sector Alliances and Resources Mobilization, UNICEF, New York, N.Y. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, in Room SD-419 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.  This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House Appropriations Committee to Mark Up of Fiscal Year 2012 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill: The full House Committee on Appropriations this week is scheduled to markup its version of the FY '12 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA), Emergency Refugee Migration Assistance (ERMA), and International Disaster Assistance (IDA) accounts.  The first two of these accounts are administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), and they fund the federal government's refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance programs.  The third account is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs marked up its version of the measure on Wednesday, July 27, 2011.  The Subcommittee-approved measure would make significant cuts in fiscal year 2012 in the MRA, ERMA, and IDA accounts relative to fiscal year 2011.  With regard to the MRA account, the Subcommittee-approved measure would cut funding by about $190 MILLION (or 11.3 percent) in FY '12 relative to FY '11, from approximately $1.687 BILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) in fiscal year 2011 to approximately $1.497 BILLION in fiscal year 2012.  It would earmark $20 MILLION of those funds for refugees resettling in Israel.  The measure would provide for the use of an unspecified amount of Economic Support Fund (ESF) funding to community based organizations (CBOs) to assist Burmese refugees residing in Thailand, and it would provide for a transfer of $8 MILLION of ESF funds to the MRA account for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations assisting Columbian refugees in neighboring countries.  With regard to the ERMA account, the Subcommittee-approved measure would appropriate $32 MILLION for the Department of State's ERMA account.  This would be a cut of $17.9 MILLION (or 35.9 percent) in fiscal year 2012 relative to the $49.9 MILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) that was appropriated for ERMA in fiscal year 2011.  With regard to the IDA account, the Subcommittee-approved measure would appropriate $757.652 MILLION for the USAID's IDA account.  This would be a cut of $105.618 MILLION (or 12.2 percent) in FY '12 relative to the $863.270 MILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) that was appropriated for the IDA account in fiscal year 2011. Finally, the draft measure would bar funding to the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA), which assists Palestinian refugees, unless the Secretary of State certifies that seven conditions are complied with.  The House Committee on Appropriations markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.     This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences:  House to Take Up Debt Limit Increase/Deficit Reduction Legislation: The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up Budget Control Act of 2011, a debt relief/deficit reduction measure that was agreed to by President Obama and the Congressional Leadership on Sunday, July 31, 2011.  The debt measure does not contain any specific immigration- or refugee-related provisions.  Notwithstanding the absence of such provisions, though, it could place long-term downward pressure on both discretionary and entitlement spending, which could result in significant cuts over the long-term in immigration- and refugee-related spending.  However, the FY '12 discretionary spending limits provided for in the Budget Control Act of 2011 are higher than those contained in the House-approved FY '12 budget.  And so, ironically, the measure could actually decrease the downward pressure on FY '12 spending for such functions as refugee resettlement while increasing the downward pressure on funding for refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, immigration enforcement, and immigration services, when compared to the pressure that the House-approved FY '12 budget resolution would have placed on those functions. The House Committee on Appropriations has already produced a number of FY '12 appropriations bills.  Indeed, it was about to mark up the bill that funds refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance this week but canceled the markup in anticipation of reaching an overall deal on the budget.  In all likelihood, the House Committee on Appropriations will receive new FY '12 spending allocations for the various spending bills and will have to make adjustments in the bills that either have already passed the House, been approved by the Committee, been approved by one of the Committee's subcommittees, or that were in a draft form at the time that the deal on the Budget Control Act of 2011 was being negotiated. The biggest potential impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011 on spending for immigration services, immigration enforcement, border enforcement, refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, and refugee resettlement may be what happens in FY '13.  The Budget Control Act of 2011 would require across-the-board cuts in discretionary spending beginning in January of 2013 if either the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction fails to report legislation making $1.2 TRILLION in deficit reduction or if Congress fails to enact those recommendations into law (or fails to enact some other set of provisions making $1.2 TRILLION in deficit reduction into law). The House could take up measure at any time on or after Monday, August 1, 2011.     Senate Could Take Up Debt Limit Increase/Deficit Reduction Legislation: The full Senate this week is expected to take up Budget Control Act of 2011, a debt relief/deficit reduction measure that was agreed to by President Obama and the Congressional Leadership on Sunday, July 31, 2011. The debt measure does not contain any specific immigration- or refugee-related provisions.  Notwithstanding the absence of such provisions, though, it could place long-term downward pressure on both discretionary and entitlement spending, which could result in significant cuts over the long-term in immigration- and refugee-related spending.  However, the FY '12 discretionary spending limits provided for in the Budget Control Act of 2011 are higher than those contained in the House-approved FY '12 budget.  And so, ironically, the measure could actually decrease the downward pressure on FY '12 spending for such functions as refugee resettlement while increasing the downward pressure on funding for refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, immigration enforcement, and immigration services, when compared to the pressure that the House-approved FY '12 budget resolution would have placed on those functions. The House Committee on Appropriations has already produced a number of FY '12 appropriations bills.  Indeed, it was about to mark up the bill that funds refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance this week but canceled the markup in anticipation of reaching an overall deal on the budget.  In all likelihood, the House Committee on Appropriations will receive new FY '12 spending allocations for the various spending bills and will have to make adjustments in the bills that either have already passed the House, been approved by the Committee, been approved by one of the Committee's subcommittees, or that were in a draft form at the time that the deal on the Budget Control Act of 2011 was being negotiated. The biggest potential impact of the Budget Control Act of 2011 on spending for immigration services, immigration enforcement, border enforcement, refugee admissions, overseas refugee assistance, and refugee resettlement may be what happens in FY '13.  The Budget Control Act of 2011 would require across-the-board cuts in discretionary spending beginning in January of 2013 if either the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction fails to report legislation making $1.2 TRILLION in deficit reduction or if Congress fails to enact those recommendations into law (or fails to enact some other set of provisions making $1.2 TRILLION in deficit reduction into law). The Senate could take up measure at any time on or after Monday, August 1, 2011. Full House to Take Up Bill Easing Plight of Deployed Military Personnel and Their Conditional Resident Spouses: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 398, a measure to ease the plight of active duty military personnel and their spouses who are seeking to remove the conditional nature of their permanent residency while they are deployed overseas.  As approved by the House Committee on the Judiciary, the measure would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to toll, during active-duty service abroad in the Armed Forces, the periods of time to file a petition and appear for an interview to remove the conditional basis for permanent resident status.  It was introduced by House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Ranking Minority Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and is cosponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), House Judiciary Immigration Policy and Enforcement Chairman Elton Gallegly (R-CA), and House Judiciary Committee Ranking Minority Member John Conyers (D-MI).        The House Committee on Appropriations approved H.R. 398 on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, by a voice vote.  However, the Committee did not formally report the measure to the full House of Representatives until July 8, 2011. The House is scheduled to take up H.R. 398 on Monday, August 1, 2011, under a process that will preclude amendments, limit debate to 40 minutes, and require the affirmative votes of two-thirds or more of those Members who are present and voting in order for the bill to be passed. Full House to Take Up Bill Reviving and Revising the Expired H-1C Nonimmigrant Nurses Program: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 1933, a measure introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) that would revive and revise the expired H-1C nonimmigrant nurses program.   The House Committee on the Judiciary approved the measure on Thursday, June 23, 2011.  However, the Committee did not formally report the measure to the full House of Representatives until July 19, 2011. The House is scheduled to take up H.R. 1933 on Monday, August 1, 2011, under a process that will preclude amendments, limit debate to 40 minutes, and require the affirmative votes of two-thirds or more of those Members who are present and voting in order for the bill to be passed.. This Week's Conference Committee Activity The following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees: Differences in Differing Versions of the FY '12 Military Construction Appropriations Bill: While no action had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, the House and Senate could at any time constitute a conference committee to iron out differences between the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 2055, the FY '12 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The House of Representatives passed its version of H.R. 2055 on Tuesday, June 14, 2011. The Senate pass its version on Wednesday, July 20, 2011. The most significant immigration-related difference between the two bills is a provision contained in the House-passed version of the bill that was stripped from the Senate-passed measure. The provision, found in Section 414 of the House-passed measure, would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees. There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure.   No conference meeting is expected to occur this week.     Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Panel Discussion on the Famine in Somalia: The Brookings Institution has scheduled a discussion for this week on "Famine in Somalia: An Expected Turn for the Worse."  Participants in the discussion will include Semhar Araia, Horn of Africa Regional Policy Adviser for Oxfam America; Mark Bartolini, Director of the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance; Vincent Cochetel, Representative to the United States and the Caribbean Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees; Allen Jury, Director of the U.S. Relations Office at the World Food Program; and Reuben Brigety, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration. The panel discussion is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Monday, August 1, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of the Brookings Institution. Address by USCIS Director Mayorkas: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas this week is scheduled to deliver remarks to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee's (UNHCR) First Annual Refugee Congress, which will mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Refugee Convention. Director Mayorkas's remarks are scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, on the campus of the Georgetown University Law Center. Panel Discussion on U.S.-Mexico border Security: The Center for American Progress (CAP) this week is holding a discussion titled, "The State of U.S./Mexico Border Security: Assessing the Past, Present, and Future From the Early Build Up Today and Beyond."  Participants in the discussion will include Alan Bersin, Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection; Doris Meissner, Senior Fellow and Director of the Immigration Policy Program; and Marshall Fitz, Director of immigration policy at CAP.  The discussion is scheduled for workshop is is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Thursday, August 4, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of the Center for American Progress. Issue Forum on Immigration Enforcement and Criminalization: Jobs with Justice this week has scheduled a forum on immigration enforcement and criminalization during its 2011 Jobs with Justice National Conference.  The title of the forum is, "Immigration Enforcement and Criminalization, an organized attack to divide workers - & the grassroots fight back". The forum is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Friday, August 5, 2011, at the Omni Forum Hotel in Washington, DC.

Week of July 25, 2011 House and Senate Hope to Take Action on Extension of Debt Limit President Obama to Deliver Remarks at the NCLR Annual Conference House Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing Measure to Limit on the HALT Act Senate Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on the Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform House Appropriations Panel to Mark Up FY '12 Bill that Funds Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance House Homeland Security Committee to Hold Third in Series of Hearings on Islamic Extremisim in the United States This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Judiciary Panel Hearing on the "HALT Act": The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a hearing for this week on H.R. 2596, the HALT (Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation) Act”.  As introduced, the measure would prohibit President Obama and his administration from granting a number of forms of relief from removal, as well as prohibit the Obama Administration from exercizing its authority to designate countries for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), during the remainder of the Obama first term.  The witness list for the hearing includes Senator David Vitter (R-LA), sponsor of the Senate version of the measure; Chris Crane, President, National ICE Council; Jessica Vaughan, Policy Director, Center for Immigration Studies; and Margaret Stock, Adjunct Professor, University of Alaska, Anchorage. The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  Senate Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on the Potential Economic Benefits of Comprehensive Immigration Reform: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security has scheduled a hearing for next week on the potential economic benefits of comprehensive immigration reform titled, "The Economic Imperative for Enacting Immigration Reform."  At the time of this writing, the witness list for the hearing included Robert Greifield, Chief Executive Officer, NASDAQ-OMX Group; David J. Skorton, President, Cornell University; Brad Smith, General Counsel and Senior Vice President for Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Corporation; Puneet S. Arora, Vice President, Immigration Voice, Los Angeles, California; David Roefaro, Mayor of Utica, New York; Laurent F. Gilbert, Sr., Mayor of Lewiston, Maine; and Paul Bridges, Mayor of Uvalda, Georgia. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, in Room SD-226 or the Dirksen Senate Office Building. House Homeland Security Committee Hearing on Islamic Radicalization in the United States: The House Committee on Homeland Security is scheduled this week to hold the third in a series of hearings it is holding on Islamic radicalization in the United States. The hearing will concentrate on "Al Shabaab: Recruitment and Radicalization within the Muslim American Community and the Threat to the Homeland."  The witness list for the hearing includes Ahmed Hussen, member, Cross Cultural Roundtable on Security, Canada; William Anders Folk, former Assistant U.S. Attorney, Minnesota; and Thomas Joscelyn, Senior Fellow and Executive Director, Center for Law and Counterterrorism, Foundation for Defense of Democracies. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.  This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Appropriations Subcommittee to Mark Up of Fiscal Year 2012 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs this week is scheduled to markup its Draft Fiscal Year 2012 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Bill.  Each year, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of State's Migration and Refugee Assistance (MRA), Emergency Refugee Migration Assistance (ERMA), and International Disaster Assistance (IDA) accounts.  The first two of these accounts are administered by the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), and they fund the federal government's refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance programs.  The third account is administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). With regard to refugee and refugee-related funding, the draft measure would cut funding for the MRA account by about $190 MILLION (or 11.3 percent) in FY '12 relative to FY '11, from approximately $1.687 BILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) in fiscal year 2011 to approximately $1.497 BILLION in fiscal year 2012.  It would earmark $20 MILLION of those funds for refugees resettling in Israel.  The draft measure would appropriate $32 MILLION for the Department of State's ERMA account.  This would be a cut of $17.9 MILLION (or 35.9 percent) in fiscal year 2012 relative to the $49.9 MILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) that was appropriated for ERMA in fiscal year 2011.  The draft measure would provide for the use of an unspecified amount of Economic Support Fund (ESF) funding to community based organizations (CBOs) to assist Burmese refugees residing in Thailand, and it would provide for a transfer of $8 MILLION of ESF funds to the MRA account for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international organizations assisting Columbian refugees in neighboring countries.  The draft measure would appropriate $757.652 MILLION for the USAID's IDA account.  This would be a cut of $105.618 MILLION (or 12.2 percent) in FY '12 relative to the $863.270 MILLION (after applying the .2 percent across-the-board cut) that was appropriated for the IDA account in fiscal year 2011. Finally, the draft measure would bar funding to the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA), which assists Palestinian refugees, unless the Secretary of State certifies that seven conditions are complied with.  The Subcommittee markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in Room H-140 of the U.S. capitol Building.     This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Take Up Bill to Create a Special Envoy on Religious Liberty: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 440, a measure to direct the President of the United States to appoint a Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia.    Under the measure, the newly created position of Envoy would hold the rank of ambassador and could not hold another federal government position at the same time.  He or she would have the duty to (1) promote the right of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia, denounce the violation of such right, and recommend appropriate responses by the United States Government when such right is violated; (2) monitor and combat acts of religious intolerance and incitement targeted against religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia; (3) work to ensure that the unique needs of religious minority communities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia are addressed, including the economic and security needs of such communities to the extent that such needs are directly tied to religious-based discrimination and persecution; (4) work with foreign governments of the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia to address laws that are inherently discriminatory toward religious minority communities in such countries; (5) coordinate and assist in the preparation of that portion of the report required by sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151n(d) and 2304(b)) relating to the nature and extent of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia; and (6) coordinate and assist in the preparation of that portion of the report required by section 102(b) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)) relating to the nature and extent of religious freedom of religious minorities in the countries of the Near East and the countries of South Central Asia. The version of H.R. 440 that the House will vote on would authorize the envoy to represent the United States in matters related to religious freedom in contact with foreign governments, intergovernmental organizations, specialized United Nations' Agencies and multilateral conferences, and meetings relevant to religious freedom.  The measure also would direct the envoy to give priority to programs for Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.  Finally, the measure would authorize $1 MILLION each year for the envoy and his staff and directs the secretary of State to offset the amount with equivalent staff reductions elsewhere in the department.     The House of Representatives is scheduled to take up H.R. 440 on Monday, July 25, 2011.   House to Take Up Debt Limit Increase/Deficit Reduction Legislation: The full House of Representatives this week could take up the House Amendments to S. 627, a measure providing for an increase in the federal debt limit and establishing a process for making cuts in the federal deficit. The House debt measure does not contain any specific immigration- or refugee-related provisions.  However, if enacted into law, it would place downward pressure on both discretionary and entitlement spending, which could result in significant cuts in immigration- and refugee-related spending.yet-to-be-introduced legislation to increase the debt limit and make reductions in spending.  The House could take up measure at any time.   Senate Could Take Up Debt Limit Increase/Deficit Reduction Legislation: The full Senate this week could take up the House Amendments to S. 627, a measure providing for an increase in the federal debt limit and establishing a process for making cuts in the federal deficit.  The Senate also could take up its own debt relief measure, embodied in a Reid Substitute to S. 1323.  The Senate bill does not contain any specific immigration- or refugee-related provisions.  However, if enacted into law, it would place downward pressure on discretionary spending while not addressing entitlement spending.  This downward pressure on spending could result in significant cuts in immigration- and refugee-related spending. The Senate is not expected to act until after the House has disposed of its debt limit bill. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: President Obama Remarks at NCLR Annual Convention: President Barack Obama is scheduled this week to deliver keynote remarks at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference.  While his remarks are expected to be wide-ranging, it is anticipated that he will devote a substantial part of them to the subject of immigration. The President's remarks are scheduled for 12:30 pm EDT on Monday, July 25, 2011, at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Discussion on Human Trafficking: The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) has scheduled a discussion for this week on "Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2011: Findings and Recommendations."  Participants in the discussion will include Luis Cde Baca, Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the State Department. The discussion is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Workshop on Rights and Extremism Confronting Latinos: The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) has scheduled a workshop for this week during its 2011 annual conference titled, "Protecting Our Rights, Confronting the Extremists".  The workshop is is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at  the Washington Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, DC. Panel Discussion on Using the National Guard for Border Security: The Heritage Foundation has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled, "Beyond the Border: The Future of the National Guard in Homeland Security."  Participants in the discussion will include Representative Tim Walz (D-MN); Al Garver, Executive Director of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States; Command Sgt. Maj. John Gipe, Senior Enlisted Adviser and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; and Jena Baker McNeill, Heritage Senior Policy Analyst for Homeland Security. The discussion is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, in the Washington, DC Offices of the Heritage Foundation. Panel Discussions on Human Trafficking:  Children Uniting Nations this week is scheduled to hold its sixth annual DC National Conference on "Keeping the Promise to Our Children," a forum on how laws can better serve America's children.  The conference will conduct a number of panels on human trafficking during the conference.  Participants will include Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Representative Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Representative Karen Bass (D-CA), and Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA). The conference panel presentations are scheduled to begin at 9:30 am EDT on Tbursday, July 28, 2011, at the Capitol Visitor Center in the U.S. Capitol Building.

Week of July 18, 2011 House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill Aimed at Overcoming Supreme Court Decision on Identity Theft House Foreign Affairs to Mark Up Bill That Traditionally Authorizes Funding for Refugee Admissions and Assistance House to Take Up Debt and Deficit Relief Bill that Could Have Consequences for Immigration and Refugee Spending Senate to Take Up Amendments to its First Appropriations Bill of the Fiscal Year This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, no hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined. This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Foreign Affairs Committee to Mark Up Bill that Traditionally Authorizes Funding for Refugee Admissions and Overseas Refugee Assistance: The House Committee on the Foreign Affairs this week is scheduled to mark up H.R. 2583, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, a measure that sometimes is referred to as the State Department Authorization Bill.  Included in the bill are provisions that would reauthorize funding for the Department of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), which administers the federal government's refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance program, at $1.690 BILLION, roughly the same amount appropriated in fiscal year 2011. The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, continuing into Thursday, July 21, 2011, in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program: The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to mark up  H.R. 704, the "SAFE for America Act", legislation introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) to eliminate the diversity visa program.  Numerous amendments are expected to be offered to the bill during the markup session. The markup is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House office Building.   House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill to Make it Easier for Prosecutors to Convict Illegal Immigrants of Felony Identify Theft: The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to mark up H.R. 2552, the "Identify Theft Improvement Act of 2011", legislation introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), a bill providing that when a person is charged with identity theft under Section 1028(a)(7) or 1028A(a) of Title 18 of the U.S. Code, prosecutors would not need to show that the person charged knew that the identity documents were those of another actual person in order to win a felony conviction. The markup is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House office Building.       This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Take Up a Symbolic "Cut, Cap, and Balance" Deficit and Debt Reduction Bill with Uncertain Immigration and Refugee Consequences: The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 2560, the "Cut, Cap, and Balance Act of 2011".  At the time of this writing, the bill had just been introduced, and the text had just become widely available.  A quick analysis indicates that the measure would provide for an increase in the nation's debt limit by $2.4 TRILLION, but only if Congress sends a Constitutional Amendment mandating a balanced budget to the states for ratification.  The measure also would cap total federal spending at 22.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in fiscal year 2012 and gradually reduce that level to 19.9 percent of GDP by 2021. From an immigration and refugee perspective, the biggest impact of the bill would likely come from its statutory discretionary and entitlement spending caps and its sequestration provisions.  Under those provisions, the bill would require $111 BILLION in unspecified spending reductions in FY 2012, it would impose hard caps on the amount of discretionary funds that can be appropriated in future years, as well as hard caps on the amount of funding that can be provided to entitlement programs during those years.  Under the bill, if the caps are breached and Congress does not correct the breach, there would be an automatic "sequestration" of funds, cutting all spending by whatever across-the-board amount is necessary to ensure that spending is under the cap amount.   The full House of Representatives is tentatively scheduled to take up H.R. 2560 on Tuesday, July 19, 2011.  At the time of this writing, it was unclear what the parliamentary procedure will be for House consideration of the measure. Full Senate to Take Up Amendments to Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction Appropriations Bill: The full Senate this week is expected to continue its consideration of the Senate Appropriations Committee-approved Version of H.R. 2055, the Fiscal Year 2012 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.  The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved its version of the measure on Thursday, June 30, 2011.  In doing so, it stripped from the House-passed version of H.R. 2055 a provision, found in section 414 of the House-passed version of H.R. 2055, that would bar funding to any contract in which the contractee does not comply with an executive order requiring federal contractees to use the E-Verify System to verify the employment eligibility of its employees.  The provision was stripped in the Chairman's Mark of the bill that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies approved on Wednesday, June 29, 2011.  The Senate Democratic Leadership is urging senators to limit amendments to the bill to germane amendments.  However, immigration-related floor amendments are possible. The Senate is expected to resume its consideration of H.R. 2055 on Monday, July 18, 2011. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Discussion on State and Local Government Enforcement of Immigration Laws. The New America Foundation has scheduled a discussion for this week titled, "Should the States Take on Immigration?"  Included will be sessions on "The Improbable Laboratories of Immigration Policy" and on "SB 1070, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and E-Verify: The Founding Fathers View". The discussion is scheduled for 8:30 am EDT on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Event on Human Trafficking: The Deparment of Homeland Security has scheduled an event for this week highlighting CBP's "No Te Enganes" (Don't be Fooled) campaign to raise awareness among potential migrants, informing them of the dangers of human trafficking.  Participants in the event will include Customs Enforcement (ICE) Deputy Director Kumar Kibble; Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar; and Senior Counselor to the Homeland Security Secretary Alice Hill. The event is scheduled for 3:00 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 19, 2011, in the offices of the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement Bureau. Briefing on Mandatory E-Verify: The Cato Instititue has scheduled a briefing for today titled, "Immigration Reform, Yes; E-Verify No."  Participants in the briefing will include Dan Griswold, Director of the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies at the Cato Institute; Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies at the Cato Institute; and Laura Renz, Government Affairs Manager at the Cato Institute. The briefing is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, in Room B-369 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Press Conference on the HALT Act: Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, has organized a press conference for this week to to release a letter in opposition to H.R. 2596, the HALT (Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation) Act”, a measure that would prohibit President Obama and his administration from granting a number of forms of relief from removal, as well as prohibit the Obama Administration from exercizing its authority to designate countries for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), during the remainder of the Obama first term. Participants in the press conference will include Representatives Gutierrez, Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Michael M. Honda (D-CA), Shelia Jackson Lee (D-TX), Hank Johnson (D-GA), and Jared Polis (D-CO). The press conference is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Thursday, July 21, 2011, in Room H-321 of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Week of July 11, 2011 House Judiciary Committee to Markup Bill Providing for the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program House Appropriations Committee to Mark Up FY '12 Bill that Funds the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) Senate Homeland Security Committee to Hold Hearing on Terrorist Travel House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on Maritime Border Security House to Take Up FY '12 Energy and Water Development Bill Containing E-Verify Provision Full House to Take Up FY '12 Financial Services Bill Containing Controversial Cuba Immigration and Remittance Provisions This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Homeland Security Panel Hearing on Maritime Border Security: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security has scheduled a hearing for this week, "Protecting the Maritime Borders -- Leveraging Law Enforcement Cooperation to Enhance Security Along America's Coasts."  The witness list for the hearing includes Michael Kostelnik, Assistant Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Office of CBP Air & Marine; Coast Guard Rear Admiral Paul Zukunft, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship; and Tim Donnellon, Sheriff, St. Clair County Sheriff's Office, Michigan. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. Senate Panel to Hold Hearing on Terrorist Travel: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is planning a hearing for this week titled, 'Ten Years After 9/11: Preventing Terrorist Travel."  The hearing will examine the security processes for visa recipients and refugee applicants, focusing on the progress that has been made, as well as the challenges that remain in identifying, preventing, and interdicting terrorist travel.  As such, it will examine the security of our visa issuing process for immigrants and nonimmigrants, the passenger pre-screening and screening programs that have been implemented to secure international flights bound for the United States, and our watchlisting systems.  The witness list for the hearing includes Rand Beers, Undersecretary of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate; Janice L. Jacobs, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs; and David F. Heyman, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Policy. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in Room SD-342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. Senate Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing on the Violence Against Women Act: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for this week on the Violence Against Women Act.  The title of the hearing is, "The Violence Against Women Act: Building on Seventeen Years of Accomplishments."  The witness list for the hearing will include Phillip C. McGraw, Los Angeles, CA; Michael Shaw, Co-Director, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services, Waypoint, Cedar Rapids, IA; Jane Van Buren, Executive Director, Women Helping Battered Women, Burlington, VT; Julie Poner, Indianapolis, IN; Eileen Larence, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. House Natural Resources Panel to Hold Hearing on Immigration Issues in the Northern Mariana Islands: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs has scheduled a hearing for this week on H.R. 1466, the "Consolidated Natural Resources Act", which would resolve the status of certain persons legally residing in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands under the immigration laws of the United States; and H.R. 44, the "Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act."  The witness list for the hearing includes Benigno Repeki Fitial, Governor, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; Eddie Baza Calvo, governor, Guam; David Gootnik, Director, International Affairs and Trade Issues, Government Accountability Office; Kelly Ryan, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Immigration and Border Security, Office of Policy; Nik Pula, Director, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior; Marian Aldan-Pierce, President, Duty-Free Shops Saipan Limited; Hazel Doctor, Resident, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (testifying on HR 1466 by videoconference); Nik Pula, Director, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior; Mauricio Tamargo, Former Chairman, Guam War Claims Review Commission, and Former Chairman, U.S. Foreign Claims Settlement Commission; and Former Rep. Ben Blaz, (R-Guam, 1983-93). The hearing is scheduled for Thursday, July 14, 2011, in Room 1324 of the Longworth House Office Building. This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Appropriations Committee to Markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill: The full House Committee on Appropriations this week is scheduled to markup its version of the Fiscal year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill in mid July.  Each year, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Justice, including appropriations for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), an agency within the Department.  The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies marked up its version of the measure on Tuesday, July 7, 2011. The full Committee markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  House Panel to Mark Up Border Security Technology Innovation Act:  The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation has scheduled a markup of a yet-to-be-introduced measure titled the "Border Security Technology Innovation Act of 2011".  The markup is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011, in Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Judiciary Committee to Resume Markup of Bill on the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens:  The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to resume its markup of H.R. 1932, the "Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2001", a measure introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) that would provide for the indefinite detention of "dangerous aliens".  The Committee began marking up the Bill on Thursday, July 7, 2011, however it halted the markup before it could take up any amendments to the measure. The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Judiciary Committee to Markup of Bill to Eliminate the Diversity Visa Program: The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to mark up  H.R. 704, the "SAFE for America Act", legislation introduced by Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) to eliminate the diversity visa program. The markup is scheduled for 11:00 am EDT on Friday, July 15, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House office Building.     Senate Appropriations Committee Panel to Markup Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: While not on the official schedule at the time of this writing, it is possible that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Appropriations could move as soon as this week to mark up the version of the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill includes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, including its three immigration-related bureaus: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CPB), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Subcommittee and Committee once contemplated marking up the measure during the week of June 27, 2011, however, the markup was never placed on the Calendar and was not held.  The markup could be rescheduled for any time.    This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Take Up FY '12 Energy-Water Development Bill Containing E-Verify Provision: The full House of Representatives this week is expected to resume its consideration of H.R. 2354, the Fiscal Year 2012 Energy, Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which contains a provision barring the hiring of federal employees unless their employment eligibility is verified through the E-Verify System.  The House began considering H.R. 2354 on Friday, July 8, 2011, but it did not take up any amendments to the measure at that time.  Several immigration-related floor amendments could be offered to the bill while it is on the House floor. The House is expected to resume its consideration of H.R. 2354 beginning on Monday, July 11, 2011. Full House to Take Up FY '12 Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Bill Containing a Number of Immigration Provisions: The full House of Representatives next week is expected to take up H.R. 2434, the Fiscal Year 2012 Financial Services, General Government, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which contains several immigraton-related provisions.  Several immigration-related floor amendments could be offered to the bill while it is on the House floor. The House is expected to take up H.R. 2434 beginning on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: White House Hispanic Policy Conference: The White House is hosting a Hispanic Policy Conference this week, during which it will bring community leaders from across the country to discuss a broad range of issues with cabinet officials and senior White House staff.  Among the sessions scheduled for the conference is one titled, "Fixing America's Broken Immigration System".  Participants in that session will include Felicia Escobar, Senior Advisor for Immigration Policy, White House Domestic Policy Council; and Margo Schlanger, Director, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Department of Homeland Security. The Sessions are scheduled from 8:15 am until 4:15 pm on Monday, July 11, 2011, and Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in the White House. Press Conference on the DREAM Act: Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) will hold a press conference this week with relgious leaders in which he will announce plans for a "DREAM Act Sabbeth", in which churches, synagogues and mosques around the country will be enlisted to dedicate time during their regular weekly worship service to a conversation about the DREAM Act.  Among the participants in the press conference will be Cardinal Theordore McCarrick, retired Catholic Archbishop of Washington. which will enlist churches, synagogues and mosques around the country to dedicate time during their regular weekly worship service to a conversation about the DREAM Act.  Among the participants in the press conference will be Cardinal Theordore McCarrick, retired Catholic Archbishop of Washington. The press conference is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in Room S-115 of the U.S. Capitol Building. Briefing on Human Rights in Cuba: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) has scheduled a briefing for this week on human rights in Cuba.  Participants in the briefing will include Reina Loina Tamayo, mother of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, a Cuban political prisoner who died in February 2010 after enduring a months-long hunger strike while incarcerated in Cuban jails. The panel briefing is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, July 13, 2011. News Conference on E-Verify: The Center for American Progress has scheduled a news conference call for this week to discuss the effects of the E-Verify immigration enforcement tool. Participants in the news conference will include Angela M. Kelley, Vice President, Immigration Policy and Advocacy, Center for American Progress; Philip E. Wolgin, Immigration Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress; and Irma D. Herrera, Editor, New America Media. The news conference call is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EDT on Tuesday, July 13, 2011, in Room 2200 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Panel Presentation on Displaced Young Persons: The Urban Institute has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled, "Young and Displaced - A Multinational Look at Youth on Their Own, as Refugees, on the Run, and In Need of Help."  Participants in the discussion will include Lavinia Limon, President & CEO of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; John Monahan, Special Adviser for Global Health Partnerships at the State Department; Matthew Stagner, Executive Director of Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago; and Olivia Golden, Urban Institute Fellow and Former Assistant Secretary for Children and Families at the Health and Human Services Department. The  panel presentation is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011, in the Washington, DC offices of the Urban Institute. News Conference on Republican Efforts to Strip President Obama of Discretionary Immigration Relief Powers: Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) has organized a press conference for this week to  discuss legislation which could restrict the immigration enforcement powers of the President.  Participants in the briefing will include Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Judy Chu (D-IL) Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Ruben Jinojosa (D-TX), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Howard L. Berman (D-CA), and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX). The  press conference is scheduled for 9:00 am am EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011, in Room B-318 of the U.S. Capitol Building. Briefing on Labor Standards Enforcement and Illegal Immigration: The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has scheduled a conference call briefing for this week to discuss a new MPI report on labor standards enforcement and the role it could play in reducing illegal immigration.  Participants in the briefing will include Don Kerwin, MPI Vice President for Programs and author of the report. The  conference call briefing is scheduled for 11:30 am EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011. News Conference on Public Attitudes About Border Security: Sky Island Alliance has scheduled a news conference to discuss a new poll measuring public attitudes on border security.  Participants in the news conference will include Melanie Emerson, Executive Director, Sky Island Alliance; Thom Riehle, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, YouGov; Monica Stewart, Chairwoman, Texas Border Coalition Border Security Committee; Bill Snape, Senior Counsel, Center for Biological Diversity; Krista Schyler, International League of Conservation Photographers; and Athan Manuel, Director, Lands Protection Program, Sierra Club. The news conference is scheduled for 1:00 pm EDT on Thursday, July 14, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Week of July 4, 2011 Senate Cancel's Planned July 4 Recess and Will Be in Session This Week House Judiciary Committee Scheduled (Yet Again) to Take Up Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens Bill House Appropriations Panel to Take Up FY '12 Bill that Funds the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) House to Take Up FY '12 Department of Defense Spending Bill Containing Several Immigration Provisions House to Take Up FY '12 Energy and Water Development Bill Containing E-Verify Provision Senate Appropriations Subcommittee and Committee Could Mark Up FY '12 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Homeland Security Panel Hearing on Protecting U.S. Jobs and the Homeland: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Management has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Homeland Security Investigations: Examining DHS's (Homeland Security Department) Efforts to Protect American Jobs and Secure the Homeland." The witness list for the hearing will include Brian Toohey, President, Semiconductor Industry Association; Michael Russo, Director for Global Security and Product Protection, Eli Lilly and Co.; Mario Mancuso, Partner, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP; and Jena Baker McNeill, Senior Policy Analyst for Homeland Security, Heritage Foundation. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittees to Hold Joint Hearing on the Consequences of a Failed State in Somalia: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights and its Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade have scheduled a joint hearing for this week titled "Assessing the Consequences of the Failed State of Somalia."  The witness list for the hearing will include  Donald Y. Yamamoto, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs; Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Affairs, U.S. Agency for International Development; Reuben Brigety, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration; J. Peter Pham, director, Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, Atlantic Council; Bronwyn Bruton, Fellow, One World Foundation; Marrtin Murphy, Visiting Fellow, Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy, King's College, London; and David H. Shinn, Adjunct Professor, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University. The hearing is scheduled for 12:30 pm EDT on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Room 2212 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Subcomittee to Hold Hearing on Border Security Issues on Public Lands: The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands has scheduled a legislative hearing for this week on two bills relating to border security issues on public lands.  The two measures that are the subject of the hearing are H.R. 1505, the "National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act"; and H.R. 587, the "Public Lands Service Corps Act of 2011".  The witness list of those testifying on H.R. 1505 includes Jim Pena, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Kim Thorsen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Management; Claude E. Guyant, Founding Member, National Association of Former Border Patrol Officers; Gary Thrasher, Arizona Cattle Growers Association, Public Lands Council, National Cattlemen's Beef Association; and John D. Leshy, law professor, Hastings College of the Law, University of California.  The witness list of those testifying on H.R. 587 includes Jim Pena, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Kim Thorsen, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Management; and Dale Penny, CEO, Student Conservation Association. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Friday, July 8, 2011, in Room 1334 of the Longworth House Office Building. This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Judiciary Committee Likely to Markup Bill on the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens:  The House Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to mark up H.R. 1932, the "Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2001", a measure introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) that would provide for the indefinite detention of "dangerous aliens".  The markup is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.   House Appropriations Subcommittee to Markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Bill: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies is scheduled this week to markup its yet-to-be-introduced version of the Fiscal year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill appropriates funding for the Department of Justice, including appropriations for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL), and the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC), all agencies within the Department of Justice. The Subcommittee markup is scheduled for 10:15 am EDT on Thursday, July 7, 2011, in Room H-309 of the U.S. Capitol Building.  Senate Appropriations Committee Panel to Markup Fiscal Year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill: While not on the official schedule at the time of this writing, it is possible that the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and the Senate Committee on Appropriations could move as soon as this week to mark up the version of the fiscal year 2012 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  Each year, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill includes appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security, including its three immigration-related bureaus: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Protection (CPB), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Subcommittee and Committee once contemplated marking up the measure during the week of June 27, 2011, however, the markup was never placed on the Calendar and was not held.  Now that the Senate has canceled its July 4 recess, a markup could be scheduled at any time.    This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full House to Resume Consideration of Defense Appropriations Bill Containing Several Familar Immigration-Related Provisions. The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up H.R. 2219, the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which contains several immigration-related provisions and could be the target for immigration-related amendments on the House floor.  Among the immigration-related provisions in the House Appropriations Committee-reported version of the bill are those that would bar use of funds in contravention of U.S. laws and regulations implementing the U.N. Torture Convention and provisions prohibiting the transfer into the United States or to other countries of Guantanamo detainees.  Several immigration-related floor amendments could be offered to the bill while it is on the House floor. The House is expected to resume consideration of H.R. 2219 beginning on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, possibly continuing into Thursday, July 7. Full House to Take Up Energy-Water Development Bill Containing E-Verify Provision. The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up H.R. 2354, the Fiscal Year 2012 Energy, Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, which contains a provision barring the hiring of federal employees unless their employment eligibility is verified through the E-Verify System.  Several immigration-related floor amendments could be offered to the bill while it is on the House floor. The House is expected to take up H.R. 2354 on Friday, July 8, 2011.  However, it may not consider amendments to the measure until next week. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Panel Presentation on Foreign Adoptions: The Center for American Progress this week is sponsoring the 2011 Campus Progress National Conference, at which participants will discuss a number of issues, including comprehensive immigration reform, Administration discretion to provide relief to illegal immigrants, and the DREAM Act.  Participants in the conference will include Former President Bill Clinton; Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change; Gaby Pacheco, Education Not Deportation (E.N.D.) National Coordinator, United We DREAM; and Jose Antonio Vargas, Multimedia Journalist who recently revealed he is an illegal immigrant. The conference is scheduled for Wednesay, July 6, 2011 through Thursday, July 6, 2011. Panel Presentation on Foreign Adoptions: The National Council for Adoption this week is scheduled to hold a forum on foreign adoptions during its 2011 National Adoption Conference.  Participants in the event will include Tiffany Murphy of the State Department; Whitney Reitz and Carrie Rankin of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; Donna Campagnolo of the National Benefits Center; and Bill Rosen, adoption attorney. The panel presentation is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in Nathional Harbor, MD. President Obama Town Hall Meeting: President Obama this week is scheduled to participate in a Town Hall Meeting via Twitter, the popular microblogging platform.  The discussion is expected to concentrate on economic issues.  However, some immigration-related questions are possible. The Town Hall is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, July 6, 2011, and will be held in the East Room of the White House. News Conference on the U.S. Border and the Environment: The Sierra Club, the Pew Environment Group, the Wilderness Society, the Center for American Progress and Defenders of Wildlife have scheduled a news conference for this week to highlight concerns about a bill to allow Homeland Security Department personnel to waive environmental rules within 100 miles of the U.S. border.  Participants in the press conference will include House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Democrat Edward Markey (D-MA); Representative Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ). The panel presentation is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Friday, July 8, 2011, in Room 234 of the Cannon House Office Building.

Week of June 27, 2011 House in Recess While Senate Remains Behind Secretaries Napolitano and Duncan to Testify at Senate Judiciary Pannel Hearing on the DREAM Act Department of State to Release 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: Senate Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on the DREAM Act: The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security has scheduled a hearing for today on S. 952, the DREAM Act, a measure introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) which is intended to give undocumented students a chance to earn legal status if they came here as children, are long-term U.S. residents, have good moral character, and complete two years of college or military service in good standing. Two panels of witnesses will testify at the hearing The witness list for the first panel includes Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, and Clifford Stanley, undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.  The witness list for the second panel includes Ola Kaso, Warren, Michigan; Retired Lt. Colonel Margaret Stock , U.S. Army Reserves, Anchorage, Alaska; and Steven A. Camarota, Director of Research, Center for Immigration Studies. The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.     This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, no markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences,   This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, no floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Secretary of State Clinton to 2011 Unveil Traffficking Report: The U.S. Department of State has scheduled an event for this week at which the Department will unveil the 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report.  Participants in the event will include Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero, and Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Luis CdeBaca. The event is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Monday, May 27, 2011,  at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.   Department of Education Press Conference on the DREAM Act: The U.S. Department of Education has scheduled a telephonic news conference for this week in support of the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.  Participants in the news conference will include Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Margaret Stock, former professor, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. The news conference is scheduled for 2:30 pm EDT on Monday, May 27, 2011. Briefing for Foreign Press on Trafficking Report: Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons Luis CdeBaca is planning a briefing for this week of foreign press on the Department of State's 2011 Trafficking in Persons Report.  The news briefing is scheduled for 4:30 pm EDT on Monday, May 27, 2011, at the Washington Foreign Press Center, National Press Building, in Washington, DC. Gay and Lesbian Immigration Issues:  National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey is scheduled to deliver remarks this week on "Advancing Equality in Employment and Immigration." The event is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Tuesday, June 28, 2011, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. Telephonic Press Conference on E-Verify Legislation:  The Competitive Enterprise Institute will hold a news conference call this week on H.R. 2164, the "Legal Workforce Act", legislation that would require all employers to use E-Verify.  Participants in the news conference call will include Stuart Anderson, Executive Director, National Foundation for American Policy; Former Representative Bob Barr (R-GA); Mike Flynn, Editor, BigGovernment.com; Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies, Cato Institute; and Alex Nowrasteh, Policy Analyst, Competitive Enterprise. The event is scheduled for 11:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 30, 2011.

Week of June 20, 2011 Members, Senators, and Refugee Advocates Plan Events to Commemorate World Refugee Day House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill Providing for Mandatory Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill Making it Easier to Deny and Revoke Visas House Judiciary Committee to Mark Up Bill on Nonimmigrant Nurses Variety of Immigration Floor Amendments (Still) Poised to be Offered to Senate Economic Development Bill Immigration-Related Floor Amendments Possible as Full House Takes Up FY '12 DOD Appropriations Bill This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, no hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined.       This Week’s Markups   At the time of this writing, the following markups were anticipated for this week that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: House Judiciary Committee to Markup Bill on the Indefinite Detention of "Dangerous" Aliens: The House Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a markup for this week of H.R. 1932, the "Keep Our Communities Safe Act of 2001", a measure introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) that would provide for the indefinite detention of "dangerous aliens".  The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.    House Judiciary Committee to Markup of Visa Security Bill: The House Committee on the Judiciary has schedued a markup for this week of H.R. 1741, the "Secure Visas Act", which was introduced by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX). The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building. House Judiciary Committee to Markup of Nurses Visa Bill: The House Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a markup for this week of H.R. 1933, legislation that would extend authorization for the H-1C nonimmigrant nurses program. The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EDT on Thursday, June 23, 2011, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building.      This Week’s Floor Activity At the time of this writing, the following floor action was scheduled for this week on measures that could have significant immigration- or refugee-related consequences: Full Senate to Take Up Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Bill with Five Immigration Floor Amendments Possible: Sometime after the Senate convenes on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, the Senate is expected to resume its consideration of S. 782, the Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011.  While the measure, itself, does not contain any immigration- or refugee-related provisions, at the time of this writing, at least five immigration- or refugee-related amendments to the bill had been filed and could be offered at any time. Two of the five immigration- or border security-related amendments to S. 782 that have been filed are familiar ones for the Senate, which has dealt with both before: DeMINT BORDER FENCING AMENDMENT.  Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) has filed SA 421, an amendment that would provide that the construction of the 700 miles of fencing along the U.S. border with Mexico that is required by Section 102(b)(1) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 be must be completed within one year after the date of enactment of the Act; provide that fencing that does not effectively restrain pedestrian traffic cannot be used to satisfy the 700-mile requirement; suspend any requirement that the Department of Homeland Security consult with local communities in the construction of fencing; and require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report on the Department's progress in meeting the requirements of the amendment. On July 8, 2009, the Senate agreed to a similar amendment offered by Senator DeMint to H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.  The Senate defeated the amendment at that time by a vote of 54-44.  However, the language was dropped in the ensuing conference between the House and the Senate. Most recently, on May 27, 2010, Senator DeMint offered a nearly identical version of SA 421 to H.R. 4899, a fiscal year 2010 supplemental appropriations bill.  The Senate defeated the amendment at that time by a vote of 45-52.   LEAHY EB-5 INVESTOR VISA REGIONAL CENTER AMENDMENT.  Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) has filed SA 419, an amendment that would permanently reauthorize the EB-5 Investor Visa Regional Center program, which otherwise is set to expire on September 30, 2012. On July 8, 2009, the Senate agreed to a nearly identical amendment offered by Chairman Leahy H.R. 2892, the Fiscal Year 2010 Homeland Security Appropriations Act.  The Senate agreed to the amendment by a voice vote.  However, the language was dropped in the ensuing conference between the House and the Senate. Three of the five immigration- or border security-related amendments to S. 782 are relatively new: FEINSTEIN SCAAP AMENDMENT.  Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has filed SA 456, an amendment that would expand the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) to permit reimbursement to state and local governments for the incarceration of aliens who are charged with a felony or two misdemeanors.  Under current law, the SCAAP program is limited to reimbursements for the incarceration of aliens who have been convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors. FEINSTEIN NO FIREARMS FOR FOREIGN FELONS AMENDMENT.  Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) has filed SA 455, an amendment that would amend Title 18, United States Code, to prohibit persons convicted of certain felonies in foreign courts from purchasing firearms. GRASSLEY PERMANENT AUTHORIZATION OF E-VERIFY AMENDMENT.  Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Minority Member Charles Grassley (R-IA) has filed SA 434, an amendment that would permanently reauthorize the E-Verify Program, which otherwise is set to expire on September 30, 2012. The Senate is expected to resume consideration of S. 782 on Tuesday, June 21, 2011.   Full House to Take Up Defense Appropriations Bill Containing Several Familar Immigration-Related Provisions. The full House of Representatives in the coming week is expected to take up H.R. 2219, the Fiscal Year 2012 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, which contains several immigration-related provisions and could be the target for immigration-related amendments on the House floor.  Among the immigration-related provisions in the House Appropriations Committee-reported version of the bill are those that would bar use of funds in contravention of U.S. laws and regulations implementing the U.N. Torture Convention and provisions prohibiting the transfer into the United States or to other countries of Guantanamo detainees The House is expected to take up H.R. 2219 beginning on Thursday, June 23, 2011.   Menendez to Introduce Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill:  Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is planning this week to introduce a comprehensive immigration reform bill.  The text of the measure was not available at the time of this writing.   The bill is likely to be introduced sometime on Wednesday, June 22, 2011. This Week's Conference Committee Activity No measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees.      Off of the House and Senate Floors   At the time of this writing, the following "off of the floor" activity on immigration- or refugee-related legislative matters is anticipated this week: Discussion on the Hispanic Population and the 2012 Elections:  NDN has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled,  "What the 2010 Census Means for the 2012 Elections."  Participants in the discussion will include Morley Winograd, Fellow, NDN; Joel Kotkin, Author; Carlos Odio, Director of Special Projects, New Organizing Institute; and Alicia Menendez (moderator), Senior Adviser, NDN. The panel discussion is scheduled for 5:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 20, 2011, at the Washington, DC offices of NDN.     UNHCR Reception for World Refugee Day:  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is sponsoring a reception for this week to commemorate World Refugee Day 2011.  Remarks will be made by Eric Schwartz, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM); Vincent Cochetel, Regional Representative, UNHCR; and Dan Kosten, Charman, Refugee Council USA and Vice-President of Programs, World Relief. The reception is scheduled for 4:30 pm EDT on Monday, June 20, 2011, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.   Photo Exhibition in Commemoration of World Refugee Day:  Refugee Council USA is sponsoring a photo exhibition this week to commemorate World Refugee Day.  The event "will honor some of the doctors, nurses, faith leaders, lawyers, business owners, farmers, case workers, teachers, and many others who welcome refugees into their communities and whose commitment to service helps keep America's great light of hope burning bright for the oppressed around the world." The photo exhibition is scheduled to take place from 9:00 am EDT until 4:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in the Foyer of the Rayburn House Office Building. Panel Discussion on the REAL ID Act and Driver's Licenses:  The Heritage Foundation and the Coalition for a Secure Drivers License have scheduled a discussion for this week titled, "Making Real ID a Reality: Next Steps for Congress."  Participants in the discussion will include Representative F. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI); Julie Myers Wood, president, ICS Consulting LLC and Immigration and Customs Solutions LLC, and former assistant secretary of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Jack Martin, special projects director, Federation for American Immigration Reform; Brian Zimmer, President of the Coalition for a Secure Drivers License; and Jena Baker McNeill, Senior Policy Analyst of Homeland Security at the Heritage Foundation. The discussion is scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in the Washington, DC Offices of the Heritage Foundation. Menendez to Hold Press Conference Announcing Introduction of Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill:  Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) has scheduled a press conference for this week to announce the introdution of a comprehensive immigration reform bill.  The text of the measure was not available at the time of this writing.   The press conference is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in the Senate Radio-TV Gallery. Reception for World Refugee Day:  Refugee Council USA is sponsoring a Capitol Hill reception this week to commemorate World Refugee Day.  Sponsors and participants will include House foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Minority Member Howard Berman (D-CA); Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL); Representative Gary Peters (D-MI); Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA); Sarah Costa, Executive Director, Women's Refugee Commission; Dr. Katherine Yun, Yale School of Medicine; and Demisse Abebe, Executive Director, TASSC International. The reception is scheduled for 5:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in Room B354 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Plenary on Student Visas:  The U.S. Department of State this week is hosting a plenary on student visas as part of its EducationUSA Forum.  Among the participants in the plenary will be Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Michael Kirby. The plenary on student visas is scheduled for 1:30 pm EDT on Thursday, June 23, 2011, in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

Week of June 13, 2011 House Judiciary Committee Chairman to Introduce Mandatory E-Verify Bill Senator Leahy and Representative Lofgren to Introduce Refugee Protection Act House Judiciary Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on Lamar Smith Mandatory E-Verify Bill House Foreign Affairs Committee Panel to Hold Hearing on Trafficking Victim Protection Immigration and Border Floor Amendments Possible on Senate Economic Development Bill Plethora of Immigration-Related Off-of-the-Hill Activity Fills Week Schedule This Week’s Hearings At the time of this writing, the following hearings were scheduled for this week at which significant immigration- or refugee-related matters are expected to be examined: House Foreign Affairs Panel to Hold Hearing on Trafficking Victims Protection: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights </