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| This Week in Immigration- and Refugee-Related Legislation Archives |
This Week on the Hill -- Current Edition
Week of February 13, 2012
President Obama to Submit His Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Proposal to Congress
House Homeland Security to Hear from Secretary Napolitano on FY '13 DHS Budget Needs
House Appropriations Panel to Hear from Secretary Napolitano on FY '13 DHS Budget Needs
House Appropriations Panel to Hear from Assistant Secretary Morton on FY '13 ICE Budget Needs
Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Vote on Confirmation of Nominee to Head PRM
House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on the Integrity of Immigration Benefit Adjudications
Conferees Could Make Decisions This Week on Immigrant Provisions in Payroll Tax Cut Extension 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 likely to be examined:
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, in Room 2359 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
- House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on the Integrity of the Immigration Benefits Adjudication Process: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement has scheduled a hearing for this week on the integrity of the immigration benefits adjudication process. Testifying at the hearing will include Alejandro Mayorkas, Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security; Charles K. Edwards, Acting Inspector General, DHS; Mark Whetstone, President, National Citizenship and Immigration Services Council; Bo Cooper, Partner, Berry Appleman and Leiden LLP.
The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EST on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, in Room 2141 of the Rayburn House Office Building
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House Homeland Security to Hold Hearing on the President's FY '13 DHS Budget Proposal: The House Committee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week to examine President Obama's proposed fiscal year 2013 budget for the Department of Homeland Security. The witness list for the hearing had not yet been officially released at the time of this writing. However, it is anticipated that the witness will be Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.
The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm EST on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, in Room 311 of the Cannon House Office Building.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Friday, February 17, 2012, in Room 2359 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:
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Senate Foreign Relations Committee to Vote on Confirmation of Nominee to Head PRM: The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is scheduled this week to vote on the nomination of Anne Claire Richard to be Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration.
The markup is scheduled for 2:15 pm EST on Tuesday, February 14, 2012, in Room S-116 of the U.S. Capitol 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:
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Conference Committee Deliberations on Payroll Tax Cut and Unemployment Compensation Extension Bill: The Conference Committee that has been established to resolve differences between the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 3630, the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 had conducted four meetings at week's end last week. It is expected to conduct at least one meeting this week. However, multiple meetings are possible.
The most significant immigration-related difference between the two versions of the bill is a provision contained in the House-passed version of the bill that was stripped from the Senate-passed version of the measure. The provision, found in Section 5201 of the House-passed version of the measure, would pay for the cost of the payroll tas cut, in part, by requiring that at least one parent have a Social Security Number to qualify for either the refundable (Child Tax Credit) or nonrefundable (Additional Child Tax Credit) version of the child care tax credit, even if the children who are receiving the child care are U.S. citizens. It has been estimated that the provision would result in the loss of $9.4 BILLION in tax credits to low-income immigrant families over the next ten years. There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure.
At the time of this writing, the conference committee had not scheduled a specific meeting time for this week. When it occurs, it is likely to be held in Room HVC-201 of the Capitol Visitor Center.
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:
- Submission of President Obama's FY '13 Budget Proposal: The White House's Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is scheduled this week to submit President Obama's fiscal year 2013 budget proposal to Congress. The submission, scheduled for Monday, February 13, 2012, will be the reference point for all of Congress's budget and appropriations actions in 2012, as well as for advocacy organizations seeking to influence fiscal year 2013 appropriations. The bulk of the budget's immigration-, refugee-related provisions will be contained in the proposals for four federal departments. They are the Department of Homeland Security, the department that houses the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) bureaus; the Department of Justice, a department that includes among its agencies the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which operates the federal government's immigration court system; the Department of State, a department that includes among its agencies the bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), the bureau that administer's the United States refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance programs; and the Department of Health and Human Services, a deparrment that includes among its agencies the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), the office that administers the United States refugee resettlement, trafficking victim assistance, torture victim assistance, and unaccompanied alien child programs and activities.
OMB is sheduled to release the FY '13 budget documents at 10:00 am EST on Monday, February 13, 2012.
- Press Briefing on Obama FY '13 Budget Submission for the Department of Justice: The Department of Justice has scheduled a press briefing for this week to explain the Obama Administration's fiscal year 2013 budget request for the Department of Justice, a department that includes among its agencies the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which operates the federal government's immigration court system. Participants in the briefing will include James Cole, Deputy Attorney General; Lee Lofthus, Assistant Attorney General; and Jolene Lauria Sullens, Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Controller.
The briefing is scheduled for 1:30 pm EST on Monday, February 13, 2012, in the offices of the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Press Briefing on Obama FY '13 Budget Submission for the Department of State: The Department of State has scheduled a press briefing for this week to explain the Obama Administration's fiscal year 2013 budget request for the Department of State, a department that includes among its agencies the bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), the bureau that administers the United States refugee admissions and overseas refugee assistance programs. Participants in the briefing will include Thomas Nides, Deputy Secretary of State; and Rajiv Shah, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development.
The briefing is scheduled for 1:30 pm EST on Monday, February 13, 2012, in the offices of the U.S. Department of State.
- Press Briefing on Obama FY '13 Budget Submission for the Department of Health and Human Services: The Department of Health and Human Services has scheduled a press briefing for this week to explain the Obama Administration's fiscal year 2013 budget request for the Department of Health and Human Services, a deparrment that includes among its agencies the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), the office that administers the United States refugee resettlement, trafficking victim assistance, torture victim assistance, and unaccompanied alien child programs and activities. Participants in the briefing will include William Corr, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Ellen Murray, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Financial Resources.
The briefing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EST on Monday, February 13, 2012, in the offices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Panel Discussion on Alabama's Immigration Enforcement Law: The Center for American Progress (CAP) has scheduled a panel discusson for this week titled, "Is This Alabama?" on Alabama's enactment of a state-level anti-immigration bill." Participants in the discussion will include Chris Weitz, director of "A Better Life;" Jose Antonia Vargas, writer and founder of Define American; Tom Baxter, columnist with SaportaReport; and Angela Kelley, vice president for immigration policy and advocacy at CAP.
The discussion is scheduled for 1:00 pm EST on Wednesday, February 15, 2012, in the offices of the Center for American Progress.
- White House Daily Briefings: White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is scheduled this week to conduct daily press briefings, at which he will field questions from the White House press corps, including possible questions on immigration- and refugee-related matters.
The specific time for each day's White House Daily Briefing is scheduled on an ad hoc basis. When they occur, they take place either in the White House Brady Briefing Room when the President is in Washington or aboard Air Force One when the President is traveling.
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Week of February 6, 2012
House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on the Agricultural Guest Worker Program
House Foreign Affairs Panel to Mark Up Vietnam Human Rights Bill Containing Refugee Provisions
NALEO to Hold Briefing on the Potential Impact of the Latino Vote on the 2012 Elections
Conferees Could Make Decisions on Immigrant Provisions in Payroll Tax Cut Extension 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 likely to be examined:
- Joint Economic Committee Hearing on the Payroll Tax Cut and Unemployment Benefits Extension Bill: The Joint Economic Committee has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Bolstering the Economy: Helping American Families by Reauthorizing the Payroll Tax Cut and UI [Unemployment Insurance] Benefits." Witnesses will include Mark M. Zandi, Chief Economist, Moody's Analytics; James Sherk, Senior Policy Analyst, Heritage Foundation; and Judith M. Conti, Federal Advocacy Coordinator, National Employment Law Project.
The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 pm EST on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, in Room SH-216 of the Hart Senate Office Building.
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House Judiciary Panel to Hold Hearing on the Agricultural Guest Worker Program: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Enforcement Policy has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Regional Perspectives on Agricultural Guestworker Programs". Witnesses at he hearing will include Gary Black, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Agriculture; Paul Wenger, President, California Farm Bureau Federation; Lee Wicker, Deputy Director, North Carolina Grower's Association; and Bruce Goldstein, President, Farmworker Justice.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Thursday, February 9, 2012, 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
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House Foreign Affairs Panel to Markup Bill on Human Rights in Vietnam: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights has scheduled a markup for this week of H.R. 1410, the "Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2011". As introduced, the measure would prohibit U.S. nonhumanitarian assistance to the government of Vietnam in excess of FY2011 amounts unless: (1) the federal government provides assistance, in addition to democracy building assistance under this Act, supporting human rights training, civil society building, and exchange programs between the Vietnamese National Assembly and Congress at levels commensurate with or exceeding any increases in nonhumanitarian assistance to Vietnam; and (2) the President certifies to Congress that the government of Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting political, media, and religious freedoms, minority rights, access to U.S. refugee programs, and actions to end trafficking in persons and the release of political prisoners.
With specific regard to refugees, the introduced version of the measure would declare "it is U.S. policy to offer refugee resettlement to Vietnam nationals (including members of the Montagnard ethnic minority groups) who were eligible for the Humanitarian Resettlement program, the Orderly Departure program, the Resettlement Opportunities for Vietnamese Returnees program, the Amerasian Homecoming Act of 1988, or any other U.S. refugee program, but who were deemed ineligible for reasons of administrative error or who failed to apply because of circumstances beyond their control."
The markup is scheduled for 2:00 pm EST on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, in Room 2172 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:
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Conference Committee Deliberations on Payroll Tax Cut and Unemployment Compensation Extension Bill: The Conference Committee that has been established to resolve differences betwen the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 3630, the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 has scheduled at least one meeting for this week. However, multiple meetings are possible.
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 version of the measure. The provision, found in Section 5201 of the House-passed version of the measure, would pay for the cost of the payroll tas cut, in part, by requiring that at least one parent have a Social Security Number to qualify for either the refundable (Child Tax Credit) or nonrefundable (Additional Child Tax Credit) version of the child care tax credit, even if the children who are receiving the child care are U.S. citizens. It has been estimated that the provision would result in the loss of $9.4 BILLION in tax credits to low-income immigrant families over the next ten years. There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure.
The conference committee is scheduled to meet at 10:00 am EST on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, in Room HVC-201 of the Capitol Visitor Center.
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:
- Telephonic Discussion on Self-Deportation: The Immigration Policy Center has scheduled a telephonic discussion for this week titled "Discrediting 'Self- Deportation' as an Immigration Control Strategy. Participants will include Michele Waslin, Senior Policy Analyst, Immigration Policy Center; Jonathan Blazer, Advocacy and Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union; Karen Tumlin, Managing Attorney, National Immigration Law Center; and Heidi Beirich, Director, Intelligence Project, Southern Poverty Law Center.
The Discussion is scheduled for 2:00 pm EST on Monday, February 6, 2012
- Briefing on the Potential Impact of the Latino Vote on the 2012 Elections: The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) has scheduled a briefing for this week titled, "The 2012 Latino Vote: Potential and Impact." Participants in the briefing will include Cesar Conde, President, Univision Networks; Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, Educational Fund, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials; Clarissa Martinez, Director, Immigration and National Campaigns, National Council of La Raza; Maria Teresa Kumar, Executive Director, Voto Latino; Ben Monterroso, Executive Director, Mi Familia Vota; and Rudy Lopez, National Field Director of Politics, Campaign for Community Change.
The briefing is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EST on Wednesday, February 8, 2012, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC.
- Briefing on the Potential Impact of the Latino Vote on the 2012 ElectionsTelephonic News Conference on Immigration Issues and the 2012 Elections: America's Voice has scheduled a telephonic news conference for this week to discuss the potential impact of immigration issues on the 2012 election. Participants in the briefing will include David Damore, Professor of Political Science, University of Las Vegas; Eliseo Medina, International Secretary-Treasurer, Service Employees International Union; Robert Preuhs, Professor of Political Science, Metropolitan State College of Denver; Gary Segura, Professor, Stanford University, and Principal, Latino Decisions; and Frank Sharry, Executive Director, America's VoiceCesar Conde, President, Univision Networks; Arturo Vargas, Executive Director, Educational Fund, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials; Clarissa Martinez, Director, Immigration and National Campaigns, National Council of La Raza; Maria Teresa Kumar, Executive Director, Voto Latino; Ben Monterroso, Executive Director, Mi Familia Vota; and Rudy Lopez, National Field Director of Politics, Campaign for Community Change.
The press conference is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EST on Thursday, February 9, 2012
- Panel Discussion on Prosecutorial Discretion: The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) has scheduled a panel discussion for this week on the use of prosecutorial discretion to ensure that scare enforcement resources are focused on the removal of unauthorized immigrants who represent threats to security and public safety. Participants will include Doris Meissner, MPI Senior Fellow and Director of the U.S. Immigration Policy Program; Seth Grossman, Deputy General Counsel at the Department of Homeland Security; Juan Osuna, Director of the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review; Jim Stolley, Director of Field Legal Operations in Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of the Principal Legal Adviser; and Crystal Williams, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
The Discussion is scheduled for 9:00 am EST on Friday, February 10, 2012, in the Washington, DC offices of the Migration Policy Institute.
- White House Daily Briefings: White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is scheduled this week to conduct daily press briefings, at which he will field questions from the White House press corps, including possible questions on immigration- and refugee-related matters.
The specific time for each day's White House Daily Briefing is scheduled on an ad hoc basis. When they occur, they take place either in the White House Brady Briefing Room when the President is in Washington or aboard Air Force One when the President is traveling.
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Week of January 30, 2012
Senate Judiciary Committee to Mark Up VAWA Bill Containing Immigration Provisions
House Homeland Security Panel to Hold Hearing on DHS and the Threat to the U.S. Homeland
Conferees Could Make Decisions on Immigrant Provisions in Payroll Tax Cut Extension Bill
Secretary Napoliano to Deliver Address on the State of America's Homeland Security
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 likely to be examined:
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House Homeland Security Panel Hearing on DHS's Emerging Threats Strategy: The House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Management is planning a hearing for this week titled, "Is DHS [Department of Homeland Security] Effectively Implementing a Strategy to Counter Emerging Threats?" The witness list for the hearing includes Paul Schneider, Principal, Chertoff Group; Shawn Reese, Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy, Congressional Research Service; David Maurer, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Team, Government Accountability Office; and Alan Cohn, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, Office of Strategic Plans, DHS Policy Office.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Friday, February 3, 2012, 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:
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Senate Judiciary Committee Markup of Violence Against Women Act: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to markup S. 1925, the "Violence Against Women Reauthorizaion Act of 2011". The measure contains among its many provisions, a number of sections intended to enhance protections for aliens who are the victim of domestic violence.
The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Thursday, February 2, 2012, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate 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:
- Immigration Provisions of the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Bill: A conference committee is expected to meet this week in an effort to iron out differences between the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 3630, the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011.
The House of Representatives passed its version of H.R. 3630 on December 13, 2011. The Senate pass its version on December 17, 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 version of the measure. The provision, found in Section 5201 of the House-passed version of the measure, would pay for the cost of the payroll tas cut, in part, by requiring that at least one parent have a Social Security Number to qualify for either the refundable (Child Tax Credit) or nonrefundable (Additional Child Tax Credit) version of the child care tax credit, even if the children who are receiving the child care are U.S. citizens. It has been estimated that the provision would result in the loss of $9.4 BILLION in tax credits to low-income immigrant families over the next ten years.
There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure.
The conference committee is scheduled to meet at 10:00 am EST on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, in Room HVC-201 of the Capitol Visitor Center.
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:
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Panel Presentation on ICE Detention Reform: Arnold & Porter is hosting a panel presentation this week on conditions of confinement, access to legal counsel, alternatives to detention/incarceration, barriers to release, and use of discretion in decisions to detain/incarcerate aliens. Participants will include Samuel M. Witten, Counsel, Arnold & Porter, and former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (2007 – 2010); Steve J. Martin, Attorney, corrections consultant, and former General Counsel of the Texas prison system; Laura Sullivan, Correspondent and Investigative Reporter for National Public Radio; Gary Mead, Executive Associate Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and Ruthie Epstein, Researcher & Advocate, Refugee Protection Program, Human Rights First.
The panel discussion is scheduled for 8:30 am EST on Monday, January 30, 2012, in the Washington, DC offices of Arnold & Porter.
The address is scheduled for 12:30 pm EST on Monday, January 30, 2012, at the National Press Club Ball Room in Washington, DC.
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Telephonic Press Conference on Latino Voters in Western States: Colorado College has scheduled a news conference call for this week to release a poll on Latino voters in western states. Participants will include Lori Weigel, Public Opinion Strategies; Dave Metz, Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates; Walt Hecox, Professor of Economics, Colorado College; Sandy Close, Executive Editor and Director, New America Media; and Maite Arce, CEO, Hispanic Access Foundation.
The telephonic press conference call is scheduled for 4:00 pm EST on Monday, January 30, 2012.
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White House Google+ "Hangout" with President Obama: President Obama is scheduled this week to join a special Google+ "Hangout" from the West Wing of the White House, during which he will answer questions from the YouTube Community about the 2012 State of the Union Address. Questions about immigration are possible.
The Google+ "Hangout" is scheduled for 5:30 pm EST on Monday, January 30, 2012.
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Panel Presentation on the Need for High-Skilled Immigrants: The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) has scheduled a discussion for this week titled, "Competing for Talent: The United States and High-Skilled Immigration." Participants will include Barry Chiswick of George Washington University; Gordon Hanson of the University of California at San Diego; and Kevin Hassett of AEI.
The panel discussion is scheduled for 9:00 am EST on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, in the Washington, DC offices of the American Enterprise Institute.
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Panel Presentation on the State of the Union Address and the Latino Community: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has scheduled a discussion for this week titled, "The 2012 State of the Union Address: Impact on the Hispanic Community and Latin America." Participants will include Ada Pena, state director, LULAC; Celinda Pena, senior adviser to the director, National Part Service, Department of the Interior; Brent Wilkes, national executive director, LULAC; and Peter Hakim, president emeritus, Inter-American Dialogue.
The panel discussion is scheduled for 6:00 pm EST on Tuesday, January 31, 2012, on the campus of George Washington University in Washington, DC.
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Web Chat on Immigration and the 2012 Election: The Brookings Institution has scheduled a webchat for this week on "Immigration and the 2012 Election." Participants will include Audrey Singer, senior fellow of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution; and Emily Howell, web producer for POLITICO. Ada Pena, state director, LULAC; Celinda Pena, senior adviser to the director, National Part Service, Department of the Interior; Brent Wilkes, national executive director, LULAC; and Peter Hakim, president emeritus, Inter-American Dialogue.
The webchat is scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm EST on Wednesday, February 1, 2012.
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Panel Presentation on the Need for High-Skilled ImmigrantsDiscusson and Performance on a Child's Journey Through the U.S. Immigration System: The American University (AU) Washington College of Law (WCL) has scheduled a discussion and performance for this week of "DE NOVO: A Child's Journey Towards a New Life Through the U.S. Immigration System." Participants will include the playwrite, Jeffrey Solomon.
The panel discussion is scheduled for 6:00 pm EST on Thursday, February 2, 2012, on the campus of Americal University in Washington, DC.
- White House Daily Briefings: White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is scheduled this week to conduct daily press briefings, at which he will field questions from the White House press corps, including possible questions on immigration- and refugee-related matters.
The specific time for each day's White House Daily Briefing is scheduled on an ad hoc basis. When they occur, they take place either in the White House Brady Briefing Room when the President is in Washington or aboard Air Force One when the President is traveling.
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Week of January 23, 2012
Senate Judiciary Committee Schedules Markup of VAWA Bill Containing Immigration Provisions
Advocates Look to President Obama's Third State of the Union Address for Hints on Immigration Policy Outlook
Conferees Expected to Begin Negotiations on Immigrant Provisions in Payroll Tax Cut Extension Bill
GOP Presidential Candidates Expected to Address Immigration During Two Telvevised Debate
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 likely 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:
-
Senate Judiciary Committee Markup of Violence Against Women Act: The Senate Committee on the Judiciary this week is scheduled to markup S. 1925, the "Violence Against Women Reauthorizaion Act of 2011". The measure contains among its many provisions, a number of sections intended to enhance protections for aliens who are the victim of domestic violence.
The markup is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Thursday, January 26, 2012, in Room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. However, it is customary for items that are appearing for the first time on the Senate Judiciary Committee's markup calendar to be held over for a week. And so, it is likely that the bill will not be marked up until Thursday, February 2, 2012, at the earliest.
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:
- State of the Union Address: The full House of Representatives and Senate this week will hold a joint meeting, at which the will listen to President Barack Obama's third State of the Union Address.
The President is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union Address at 9:00 pm EST on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 in the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives.
This Week's Conference Committee Activity
The following measures containing significant immigration- or refugee-related provisions are pending in conference committees:
- Immigration Provisions of the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Bill: While no action had yet been scheduled at the time of this writing, House and Senate conferees could at any time meet in an effort to iron out differences between the House-passed and the Senate-passed versions of H.R. 3630, the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011.
The House of Representatives passed its version of H.R. 3630 on December 13, 2011. The Senate pass its version on December 17, 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 version of the measure. The provision, found in Section 5201 of the House-passed version of the measure, would pay for the cost of the payroll tas cut, in part, by requiring that at least one parent have a Social Security Number to qualify for either the refundable (Child Tax Credit) or nonrefundable (Additional Child Tax Credit) version of the child care tax credit, even if the children who are receiving the child care are U.S. citizens. It has been estimated that the provision would result in the loss of $9.4 BILLION in tax credits to low-income immigrant families over the next ten years.
There is no comparable version of the provision in the Senate-passed version of the measure.
No formal conference meeting is scheduled to occur this week. However, a meeting could be scheduled at any time.
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:
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Panel Discussion on the Impact on Refugees of the Material Support to Terrorism Provisions of the INA: Human Rights First has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled, "Mislabeled as Terrorists: Government Inaction Keeps Refugee Families Apart," at which it will discuss the material support to terrorism provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Participants will include Barrett Duke, Vice President for Public Policy and Research, Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission; Anwen Hughes, Senior Counsel, Refugee Protection Program, Human Rights First; Steven H. Shulman, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer and Feld LLP; and Julie Hysenaj, a U.S. citizen who is separated from her Kosovar husband because of the material support provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The panel discussion is scheduled for 12:00 Noon EST on Monday, January 23, 2012, at the Washington, DC offices of Akin Gump.
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Panel Discussion on the Immigration Policy Outlook: The Center for Global Development has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled "Lessons for Bi-Partisan Immigration Compromise." Participants will include Michael Clemens, Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development; Shari Robertson and Michael Camerini, filmmakers of "How Democracy Works Now: 12 Stories"; and Esther Olavarria, former immigration counsel to Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA).
The panel discussion is scheduled for 5:00 pm EST on Monday, January 23, 2012, in the Washington, DC offices of the Center for Global Development.
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2012 Presidential Candidates Debate: The Center for Global Development has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled "Lessons for Bi-Partisan Immigration Compromise." Participants will include NBC News, National Journal, and the Tampa Times, in association with the Florida Council of 100, are sponsoring a debate among the four remaining major candidates for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Given its location (in Florida), it is highly likely that the candidates will be asked to address the issue of immigration during the course of the debate. The debate will be moderated by NBC's Brian Williams and will include a panel with National Journal’s Beth Reinhard and the Tampa Bay Times’ Adam Smith.
The debate is scheduled for 9:00 pm EST on Monday, January 23, 2012, and will be broacast live on NBC. Telemundo will broadcast the debate live in its entirety with simultaneous Spanish-language translation. And the debate also will be streamed live on nbcpolitics.com, nationnaljournal.com, and tampabay.com.
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Telephonic Press Conference on the immigrant Entrepreneurs: The Center for Global Development has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled "Lessons for Bi-Partisan Immigration Compromise." Participants will include The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Immigration Policy Center of the American Immigration Council has scheduled a telephonic press conference for this week upon the release of a report regarding the impact of immigrant entrepreneurs on the U.S. economy. Participants in the press conference will include Randy Johnson, Senior Vice President for Labor, Immigration, and Employee Benefits, U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Ben Johnson, Executive Director, American Immigration Council; Marcia Hohn, Director, Public Education Institute, The Immigrant Learning Center; and Mary Giovagnoli, Director, Immigration Policy Center.
The telephonic press conference is scheduled for 1:30 pm EST on Wednesday, January 25, 2012.
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Briefing on Iraqi Refugees: The Center for Global Development has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled "Lessons for Bi-Partisan Immigration Compromise." Participants will include The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), and the Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project are sponsoring a congressional briefing to discuss the status of Iraqi interpreters and translators who helped U.S. forces and Iraqi refugees and displaced persons dislocated by the war.
The briefing is scheduled for 3:00 pm EST on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, in Room SV-209 of the Capitol Visitors Center.
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Briefing on Palestinian Refugee Schools: The Center for Global Development has scheduled a panel discussion for this week titled "Lessons for Bi-Partisan Immigration Compromise." Participants will include The Center for Near East Policy Research and the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education has scheduled a Capitol Hill briefing for this week on practices in Palestinian refugee schools. Participants in the briefing will include Amon Groiss, Senior Journalist, Israel Broadcasting Authority's Arabic Radio.
The briefing is scheduled for 11:00 am EST on Thursday, January 26, 2012, in Room 2168 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
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Panel Presentation on the Future of Immigration to the United States: The Washington, DC Chapter of the World Future Society is sponsoring a panel presentation on "The Future of Immigration to the United States. Participants will include LisaS Roney and Milt Roney, former members of the Immigration and Naturalization Service/Department of Homeland Security.
The presentation is scheduled for 6:00 pm EST on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Bethesda, MD.
- 2012 Presidential Candidates Debate: CNN and the Republican Party of Florida are sponsoring a debate among the four remaining major candidates for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Given its location (in Florida), it is highly likely that the candidates will be asked to address the issue of immigration during the course of the debate. The debate will be moderated by CNN's Wolf Blitzer.
The debate is scheduled for 8:00 pm EST on Thursday, January 26, 2012, and will be broadcast live on CNN.
- White House Daily Briefings: White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is scheduled this week to conduct daily press briefings, at which he will field questions from the White House press corps, including possible questions on immigration- and refugee-related matters.
The specific time for each day's White House Daily Briefing is scheduled on an ad hoc basis. When they occur, they take place either in the White House Brady Briefing Room when the President is in Washington or aboard Air Force One when the President is traveling.
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