The pace at the markup of the comprehensive immigration reform bill picked up Tuesday, to say the least. I am pleased to pass along that Tuesday night, by a bipartisan vote of 13-5, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act and sent it on to the full Senate!
That vote was a major step forward in our effort to pass comprehensive immigration reform, and I want to thank everyone who shared their thoughts with me as our committee considered hundreds of amendments.
This bipartisan legislation will finally establish a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country. It will fix critical problems in our existing system, such as the backlogs that sometimes keep families apart for decades. It will put the DREAMers on a fast track. And it will make so many other critical changes -- big and small -- to ensure the United States remains a beacon of hope in the world.
I was disappointed that my amendment to make sure that LGBT families can enjoy the same spousal immigration benefits as anyone else is not a part of this bill -- simply because most Republicans would rather kill this vital bill than allow it to include LGBT Americans. Though we were unsuccessful in committee, I remain committed to fighting this discrimination in our immigration system not only on the Senate floor, but anywhere and everywhere I can. It serves no purpose and is wrong.
The failures of our current immigration system affect everyone, and reform is long overdue. We need a new, comprehensive immigration approach that lives up to our history, our values, and common decency.
Tuesday, we took a major step toward writing the next great chapter in American history. Thank you for your support in helping us move forward.
Happy to report that the meeting remained civil. What is impressive is that there was standing room only right from the start of the meeting! Many good points were made. Now we wait upon the decision of the Developnent Review Board.
I think the opening photo might be a jest... but there are some awfully good looking recipes in here! I couldn't locate a photo of fancy Starey Gazy Pie I thought I had in my old cookbook. But there are quite a few on Google.
Cool now; it is supposed to slowly warm over several days, but only into the low 80's.
When I was at work today my iPhone began beeping the Emergency Broadcast System alert! That has never happened before, and it was telling me of the Flash Flood Warning. I guess it’s a feature that comes with the app. Who knew? I wasn't in a low lying area, but it sure made me feel like I was in mortal danger! Ha! I mean, you don't generally hear the Emergency alert sounding off in a library...especially in the library clerk's possession! LOL!
But! We seem to be in thunderstorm alley, presently, judging by the radar. My house is fine, but not too far from me people are stranded. It's very strange to have this kind of flooding so late in Spring. I am in Jericho, and here's the latest:
"Areas that have been particularly hard hit include Jericho... Underhill... and Cambridge. Avoid travel in these towns. Road washouts may not be marked by town emergency crews... and flood damage is very hard to recognize at night.
"As this flood event progresses... flooding will continue downstream on the Browns river through Westford... as well as on the LaMoille through Jeffersonville... Cambridge... and Fairfax."
On Tuesday we had .96" of rain On Wednesday we had 1.43" of rain (new record) On Thursday we had 2.26" of rain (tying the 1955 record) And it looks like rain from now through Sunday morning. Heh.
I see that NOAA is predicting a very active hurricane season this coming year--up to 20 named storms, maybe half a dozen major hurricanes, of which about three are expected to hit the US.
Give me a "D"!
ReplyDeleteGive me an "E"!
Give me an "A"!
Give me an "N"!
From my Inbox today:
ReplyDeleteThe pace at the markup of the comprehensive immigration reform bill picked up Tuesday, to say the least. I am pleased to pass along that Tuesday night, by a bipartisan vote of 13-5, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act and sent it on to the full Senate!
That vote was a major step forward in our effort to pass comprehensive immigration reform, and I want to thank everyone who shared their thoughts with me as our committee considered hundreds of amendments.
This bipartisan legislation will finally establish a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants in this country. It will fix critical problems in our existing system, such as the backlogs that sometimes keep families apart for decades. It will put the DREAMers on a fast track. And it will make so many other critical changes -- big and small -- to ensure the United States remains a beacon of hope in the world.
I was disappointed that my amendment to make sure that LGBT families can enjoy the same spousal immigration benefits as anyone else is not a part of this bill -- simply because most Republicans would rather kill this vital bill than allow it to include LGBT Americans. Though we were unsuccessful in committee, I remain committed to fighting this discrimination in our immigration system not only on the Senate floor, but anywhere and everywhere I can. It serves no purpose and is wrong.
The failures of our current immigration system affect everyone, and reform is long overdue. We need a new, comprehensive immigration approach that lives up to our history, our values, and common decency.
Tuesday, we took a major step toward writing the next great chapter in American history. Thank you for your support in helping us move forward.
Sincerely,
Patrick Leahy
US Senator
Tonight's the night...
ReplyDeleteA meeting about the proposal to build a Dollar General store in Town.
I'll be at work for the first 1.5 hours of the meeting, so have sent a letter to be read aloud. It promises to be a highly contentious meeting. =Sigh=
Happy to report that the meeting remained civil. What is impressive is that there was standing room only right from the start of the meeting! Many good points were made. Now we wait upon the decision of the Developnent Review Board.
DeleteBummer.
ReplyDeleteTonight is a meet and greet thing with some potential room mates for Son--and their families.
Renee, how did the M&G go?
ReplyDeleteRained most of today. Maybe that's why I'm so unaccountably sleepy.
ReplyDeleteThis creative approach is impressive. Hurrah for social media in all its forms!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/culture/7120/vandalism_as_conversation_starter/#.UZ4EzmZfnb5.facebook
The 17 strangest British recipes you have to try [Click]
ReplyDeleteI think the opening photo might be a jest... but there are some awfully good looking recipes in here! I couldn't locate a photo of fancy Starey Gazy Pie I thought I had in my old cookbook. But there are quite a few on Google.
Cool now; it is supposed to slowly warm over several days, but only into the low 80's.
--Alan
When I was at work today my iPhone began beeping the Emergency Broadcast System alert! That has never happened before, and it was telling me of the Flash Flood Warning. I guess it’s a feature that comes with the app. Who knew? I wasn't in a low lying area, but it sure made me feel like I was in mortal danger! Ha! I mean, you don't generally hear the Emergency alert sounding off in a library...especially in the library clerk's possession! LOL!
ReplyDeleteBut! We seem to be in thunderstorm alley, presently, judging by the radar. My house is fine, but not too far from me people are stranded. It's very strange to have this kind of flooding so late in Spring. I am in Jericho, and here's the latest:
"Areas that have been particularly hard hit include
Jericho... Underhill... and Cambridge. Avoid travel in these towns. Road washouts may not be marked by town emergency crews... and flood damage is very hard to recognize at night.
"As this flood event progresses... flooding will continue downstream on the Browns river through Westford... as well as on the LaMoille through Jeffersonville... Cambridge... and Fairfax."
On Tuesday we had .96" of rain
On Wednesday we had 1.43" of rain (new record)
On Thursday we had 2.26" of rain (tying the 1955 record)
And it looks like rain from now through Sunday morning. Heh.
I see that NOAA is predicting a very active hurricane season this coming year--up to 20 named storms, maybe half a dozen major hurricanes, of which about three are expected to hit the US.
ReplyDelete--Alan
Yikes!
Delete