Rep. Blumenauer Meets with Latino Community Members in NE Portland

November 10, 2011

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)

Portland, Ore.—On Wednesday, Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR, 3rd District) met with members of the Latino Community at a NE Portland Church. The meeting was one of many organized Leaders' Assemblies taking place around Oregon where members of the community talk to their elected leaders about issues important to them.

Among the issues raised during the hour long meeting with Congressman Blumenauer included Legalization and the Dream Act, Making Prosecutorial Discretion Work, Local Law Enforcement and ICE Collaboration on Immigration Enforcement, Uniting families (hardship waivers for the 3-/10-year bars), Immigration Detainers/ICE Holds, Detention Reform, and Customs and Border Protection Reforms.

Leaders' Assembly Participants

During opening remarks, Causa’s Executive Director Francisco Lopez highlighted the support Congressman Blumenauer has given to the DREAM Act, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act (H.R. 4321, CIR ASAP) and the Family Reunification Act. He also praised the Congressman for a recent letter he signed on with other legislators addressed to President Obama asking for the elimination of the Secure Communities Program.

Several members of the NE Portland Community also had a chance to tell their personal stories to Congressman Blumenauer. Among the issues they have been touched by in their personal lives includes the difficulty for people to obtain citizenship through the current broken immigration system, having their families torn apart by programs like Secure Communities, the need for passage of the DREAM Act so children of immigrants can realize their full potential and the need for restoration of driver's licenses so that familes can take their children to the doctor and drive to work so they can support their familes.

During his address, Congressman Blumenauer highlighted the special skills and contributions that immigrants bring to the United States and their importance in the fabric of the community. Blumenauer confirmed that he would continue working towards positive solutions for immigrant families in 2012 and would fight against anything in congress that represents hate, division or right-wing anti-immigrant ideology seeking to destroy the values of this country.

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VIDEO: Campaign Kick-off for Immigration Reform Bill HR 4321

Yesterday, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition held a Press Conference thanking Congressman Blumenauer for being the first Representative from Oregon's Congressional Delegation to join on as a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) (HR 4321)and to call on remainder of the delegation to join him.

During the Press Conference, Congressman Blumenauer made a surprise appearance to explain the importance and the work needed to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Watch our video featuring scenes of the Press Conference and Congressman Blumenauer's speech:



Direct link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38pV4hTFeRU

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Congressman Blumenauer speaks at CIR-ASAP Press Conference in Portland

Oregon Coalition holds Campaign Kick-off for Immigration Reform Bill HR 4321

Portland, Ore.--CAUSA, Oregon's Immigrant Rights Coalition, held a Press Conference on Thursday thanking Congressman Blumenauer for being the first Representative from Oregon's Congressional Delegation to join on as a co-sponsor of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009 (CIR ASAP) (HR 4321).

Supporters of the bill also called on Oregon's other Representatives to join with Congressman Blumenauer in supporting the legislation and for Senators Wyden and Merkley to encourage New York Senator Charles Schumer to introduce a similar bill in the Senate.

During the Press Conference, Congressman Blumenauer made a surprise appearance in lieu of his staffer to explain the importance and the work needed to pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform. This is what the Congressman had to say:

"We need people to stop playing politics with Immigration. It is important to reach out to individuals, in every church, in every opportunity where there are small groups, people working in business, people who are working in social service agencies to talk about the human face, to talk about reasonable legislation, that will help people earn an opportunity for citizenship. We can do this in a way where, and most importantly, that we are not punishing children who are here who are here and are everybody's future".

The event was very positive and uplifting. Click here to watch our video featuring scenes of today's action and Congressman Blumenauer's speech.

We Need Comprehensive Immigration Reform NOW. Reform is long overdue, and Congress must take immediate action to fix our broken immigration system. CAUSA and the Reform Immigration FOR America campaign are mobilizing Oregonians and Americans alike across the nation for an immigration reform that works for the economy, taxpayers and families. One that:

Creates millions of new taxpayers by requiring undocumented immigrants to register, go through background checks, pay taxes, and study English on their way to becoming full U.S. citizens

Enhances our national security by focusing our enforcement and security measures on the most dangerous threats to our communities

Protects workers and helps with economic recovery Keeps families together

Protects the due process rights of all

Thursday's Campaign Kick-off in Oregon came the same day the Immigration Policy Center and the Center for American Progress released a groundbreaking report on the economic benefits of Immigration Reform. According to the report, immigration reform will raise the GDP in the United States by over $1.5 trillion over the next 10 years. In contrast, deportation-only proposals will cost the U.S. economy over $2.5 trillion-above and beyond the cost of deporting 12 million people.

Throughout the rest of this month and next, CAUSA and our supporters will visit Oregon's other Representatives encouraging them to sign on as co-sponsors of HR 4321 (CIR-ASAP of 2009). Please see our calendar for the dates and times.

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Oregon News Service: Oregon's Immigration Reform Groups "Go Visiting"

Oregon's Immigration Reform Groups "Go Visiting"

January 7, 2010
Chris Thomas, Public News Service - OR
AUDIO

PORTLAND, Ore. - Only one member of Oregon's congressional delegation has endorsed the latest Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill submitted a month ago, and members of the immigrant community say they'll be urging the others along in the coming weeks. Today, they're stopping by Rep. Earl Blumenauer's office to say 'thanks' for co-sponsoring the bill.

Francisco Lopez with Oregon's immigrant rights coalition, CAUSA, says it's a start.

"We are going to take this whole legalization process and keep pushing and pushing, and we are not going to stop. We'll be visiting our congressional offices in Oregon until we have all the votes that we need. Oregon has two in the Senate and five in the House, so we need seven votes. Now, we have one."

Lopez says about 400,000 immigrants live in Oregon, and about one-third are undocumented.

The bill (HR 4321) was introduced last month by Illinois Rep. Luis Gutierrez. It would outline a path to citizenship, revamp the guest worker program and border security policies, and promote keeping families together.

The office visit coincides with the release of a report that says immigration reform would boost the U.S. economy by more than $1.5 trillion in the next 10 years, while other proposals that focus only on deportation would cost more than $2 trillion. Lopez says allowing people who are already in the United States to become citizens makes financial sense.

"These people will start becoming stable, and they will start buying homes, get better jobs, and some of them that want to start businesses will be able to. Kids will be able to go to college, and the economy will begin to improve."

The bill is the "Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security & Prosperity Act of 2009." CAUSA meets with Rep. Blumenauer at noon at his Portland office, 729 N.E. Oregon St.

http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/12120-1

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U.S. House Passes Historic Bipartisan Health Care Reform Bill

Late last night after a long day of debate, the U.S. House passed an historic bipartisan health care reform bill. At 11:15pm EST, the House of Representatives passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) by a vote of 220, which included 219 Democrats and 1 Republican.

According to a press release from Oregon Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), the bill includes “a public option, adds coverage for 37 million people, insures 96% of Americans, and provides advance care planning - a provision Blumenauer authored - all while reducing the deficit.”

For almost 100 years and despite countless attempts, neither chamber of Congress has ever before passed comprehensive health reform.

The passage of the bill brought Americans one step closer to secure, affordable care while extending health care to 36 million more Americans including 323,000 more Oregonians.

It is now up to the Senate to take up their version of healthcare reform legislation. According to ABC News, two bills have already moved through committee and now must be merge into a single, unified bill. Democratic Leaders pledge they will have a bill on the President’s desk before the end of the year.

Correction: Original article reported U.S. Congress passed Historic Bipartisan Health Care Reform bill. For clarity, it was the U.S. House of Representatives that passed the Historic Bipartisan Health Care Reform Bill.

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