Grouped By Vote Position

10/24/2007 Hawaii Reporter: “Akaka Bill Passes the U.S. House,”
By Dave Helfert
    “It’s highly appropriate that today’s House vote to approve the Native Hawaiian Government 
Reorganization Act was the 1000th vote of the Democratic-led 110th Congress,” said 
Representative Neil Abercrombie, who sponsored the House bill. “We’ve made significant 
progress in promoting individual opportunity and self-determination; none more important 
than the Akaka Bill.”
    “This bill has long been the highest priority for Hawaii ’s Congressional delegation,” said 
Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono. “I am very proud to have had the opportunity to co-introduce 
this bill and to argue for it on the floor of the U.S. House. The resounding vote supporting 
passage shows that the majority recognize that justice for Native Hawaiians is long overdue. 
This is a victory for all the people of Hawaii .”
    Sen. Daniel J. Akaka said: “Today’s House action provides great momentum in our effort to 
extend federal recognition to Hawaii ’s indigenous peoples. I was thrilled to see bipartisan 
support for this long-needed legislation that underscores our ongoing efforts toward 
reconciliation across our islands. I commend Representative Abercrombie for his years of 
relentless work sharing the history of Hawaii with his colleagues and stressing the importance 
of this bill for Hawaii ’s future, and Congresswoman Hirono for playing a key role in the bill’s 
passage today.” 
    U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Inouye said: “I am extremely pleased that the House has passed the 
Native Hawaiian recognition bill. House passage gives added momentum to this important 
measure.”
    Haunani Apoliona, chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 
said, “We thank Congressman Neil Abercrombie and Congresswoman Mazie Hirono for 
their persuasive debate on the floor, and for fighting off attempts to falsely label this 
legislation as race based and unconstitutional.”

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 1000

(Democrats in roman; Republicans in italic; Independents underlined)

      H R 505      YEA-AND-NAY      24-Oct-2007      3:04 PM
      QUESTION:  On Passage
      BILL TITLE: Native Hawaiian Government Reorganization Act

---- YEAS    261 ---  

---- NAYS    153 ---  

---- NOT VOTING    18 ---  

6/28/07 Los Angeles Times: “Immigration bill dead in Senate: Defeat for bipartisan group 
that worked months on reform measure backed by the president,”
by Nicole Gaouette 
    Washington -- Lawmakers killed the Senate immigration reform bill today, voting 
46 to 53 to move to a final vote on the controversial measure, 14 short of the 60 required.
    The defeat is a setback for the bipartisan team of lawmakers who worked for months to 
craft a bill they hoped would draw enough support from both parties to pass. It represents 
a blow to President Bush, who threw his full support behind broad immigration reform and
whose Cabinet played a key role in shaping the legislation.
    And it represented a victory for grassroots conservatives who, spurred by right-wing 
radio talk show hosts, overwhelmed Congress with phone calls and e-mails assailing 
the legislation.
    The legislation's demise makes the fate of immigration reform in the near term uncertain.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) made it clear to Senate leaders and 
the White House that she would not bring up immigration legislation unless the Senate 
passed it first.
    This morning, the senators behind the bill took to the floor to make impassioned pleas 
urging their fellow lawmakers to support the measure, even as the several Senate phone 
systems crashed from the volume of calls from people for and against it.
    "Even if you disagree with this bill, don't end this debate," said Sen. Richard Durbin 
(D-Ill.), who urged his colleagues to reject "these voices of exclusion" opposing the 
measure and not "say we are surrendering to these negative voices across America."
    Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a key member of the team that worked to produce the
bill, said that in the aftermath of its failure, more illegal immigrants would continue to cross
the border, and she rapped conservative critics for their focus on the provision that would 
allow illegal immigrants to gain legal status.
    "To those people who opposed this as an amnesty bill, I don't know how you can say 
more strongly, this is not," Feinstein said.
    Calling up images of Nazi Germany, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) chastised 
opponents for clinging to the idea that America could simply track down and deport more
than 12 million illegal immigrants. " America deserves better," he said.
    Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), a staunch opponent of the bill, cited a study by the 
Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan arm of Congress, which said the bill would 
reduce illegal immigration by only 13%. "Let's stop here now, let's go back to the drawing
board and come up with a bill that will work," he said.
    Though critics have argued that the Bush administration could deal with illegal immigration
by enforcing existing law, the bill's backers and administration officials such as Homeland
Security Secretary Michael Chertoff have pointed out that there is no existing mandatory
system to ensure that illegal immigrants are not hired at work sites. The bill would create one.
    "At the end of the day, it's the most important measure that we could have," said Sen. 
Mel Martinez (R-Fla.).
    After the vote, Bush called it a "disappointment" that Congress had failed to act on the bill.
    "Congress really needs to prove to the American people that it can come together on hard
issues," he said.
    Sponsors vowed to return to the issue at some point.
    "We will live to see another day," said Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) "We will be back," 
Kennedy said. "This issue isn't going to go away, and we will succeed."
    Added Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.): "We're going to have to redouble our efforts."
    Kyl came under enormous pressure from conservative constituents who railed against the
measure's path toward citizenship for illegal immigrants.
    "I've learned one main lesson," he said. "A lot of Americans have lost faith in their 
government – they don't think we can control our borders, win a war, issue passports."
    Another sponsor who took political heat at home was Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.),
who is up for reelection this year and whose office was besieged with calls from angry
constituents.
    "The reason I want to be the senator from South Carolina is to bring out the best in my
state and my country and do the hard things," said Graham, who predicted that now that
Congress had failed to pass an immigration bill, cities and states would enact their own
measures on employment and benefits.
    Opponents, on the other hand, were relieved. The Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, which
patrols the border to prevent illegal immigration, hailed the vote and the citizens who made
their views known in Washington .
    "We have accomplished a small but significant victory today in the fight to secure our
nation's borders," said the group's founder, Chris Simcox. "Beating this appallingly bad
bill back in the Senate was crucial, but we must keep up the fight in Washington , D.C. , until
our borders are truly secured, a border fence is built and our laws enforced."
    "We have to demonstrate results," said Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). "Americans will 
have a compassionate view" toward the illegal immigrants now here "once we commit 
ourselves" to protecting borders.
    Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) said the issue had "created real divisions within the party,"
and he predicted they "can and will be healed if we respond to the very clear message
from the American people and attack security at the border and the workplace first."
    Watching the debate on the Senate floor was Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), who
chairs the House Judiciary subcommittee on immigration. Afterward she issued a 
statement faulting the Senate for "its inability to move forward" and saying the House
would now "take stock of the situation to determine whether anything can be done."
House Republicans have said the bill is "dead on arrival" in that chamber.
    The bill concentrated on security provisions that would have added thousands of 
agents at the border, along with physical and virtual barriers, cameras and radar. It would
have created a work site system to verify that all workers have legal status.
    Once those systems were up and running, the bill's other provisions would kick in.
A temporary-worker program would bring in 200,00 immigrants a year, and eligible
illegal immigrants who had been on a probationary legal status until that point would
get the bill's "Z Visa."
    Opposition to the bill centered around Republican objections to the Z Visa program.
    "A big amnesty with inadequate enforcement will cause the problem to grow, not 
diminish," said Vitter, who alongside Sessions led the procedural objections to the bill.
Vitter said the vote would reveal whether the Senate as a body was "arrogant" and 
"out of touch."
    Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), citing the crashing phone lines in Senate offices across
Capitol Hill, said the silver lining of the debate was that it had re-engaged the 
American people.
    But the bill also drew Democratic opposition from lawmakers worried about the 
potential impact on low-wage American workers and concerned about border security,
particularly from freshman Democrats, such as Sens. Claire McCaskill of Misourri, 
Jon Tester of Montana and Jim Webb of Virginia , who won their seats from Republicans.
    The bill had a phoenix-like return last week after appearing dead in early June, when
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pulled it from the floor after it failed a test
vote. Senators worked behind the scenes to resolve a conflict over amendments before
bringing the bill to the floor last week.
    Graham, who has been a favorite target of the bill's opponents for his part in writing it,
warned his GOP colleagues that today's vote would be their only chance to get what they
wanted out of an immigration bill. Saying Democrats would not go away and would 
never allow a bill that only includes a fence, Graham told Republicans to "remember this
day if you vote no. You will never have this day again.… This is as good as it is going to get."
    

6/18/07 Legislative Update: The Filipino Veterans Equity Act is currently in the House 
and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees. There are 73 cosponsors in the House and 
14 in the Senate. 


6/8/07 Press Release from Senator Barbara Boxer: Senators Boxer and Feinstein Work 
to Preserve Tule Lake Segregation Center
    I am pleased to let you know that I have joined Senator Dianne Feinstein in introduced
the Tule Lake Segregation Center Special Resource Study Act, S.1467, asking the 
Department of the Interior to study the feasibility of designating the Tule Lake Segregation
Center – a World War II-era Japanese American internment camp located in Northern
California – as a National Historic Site. 
    During World War II, the federal government ordered the evacuation and internment 
of over 120,000 Japanese-Americans in ten different internment camps across the 
country. At its peak, about 19,000 were held at Tule Lake , the largest and one of the
most infamous of the camps. It was the site of frequent demonstrations and strikes by 
internees demanding their rights under the U.S. Constitution. It also became a 
"segregation camp," used for those who had refused to take a loyalty oath or who had
caused disturbances. Tule Lake was one of the last camps to be closed, staying open
until March 20, 1946.
    Tule Lake is also one of the best preserved of the internment camps. It has several
significant historic features remaining, including the camp stockade that imprisoned 
internees. By preserving it in our National Park System, we will be able to better protect
these priceless features as a reminder of what happens when we disregard our values
and forget what it means to be American. I am so proud to be joining Senator Feinstein
in this effort to make sure that the lessons of history are never forgotten.
    A companion bill has being introduced in the House by Representatives John 
Doolittle (R-CA) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) and has been endorsed by the Modoc 
County Board of Supervisors. 

6/7/07 Wall Street Journal: “Benefits of Issuing Visas on Merit Are Questioned: 
As Immigration Bill Faces Senate Test, Family Pluses Cited,”
by June Kronholz and Sarah Lueck
    The debate over family immigration came to a head last night, as the Senate rejected
an effort by Sen. Robert Menendez (D., N.J.) to grant permanent residency to some 
800,000 people who have applied for legal status based on family ties. Though the
proposal fell on a procedural move requiring 60 votes, the 53 votes it received show
a strong interest, particularly among Democrats, for giving greater weight to family 
connections.
    The Senate debate stretched late into the night, and other family-related 
amendments were expected to be considered. One amendment, proposed by 
Sen. Barack Obama (D., Ill.) would eliminate the merit-based system after five 
years and was viewed by Republicans as anathema to the bipartisan immigration 
deal. The Senate also was set to vote on whether to make English the official U.S.
language.



6/6/07 Associated Press: Immigration deal survives Senate hurdles
by Charles Babington
    Washington - A proposed immigration overhaul narrowly survived strong Senate 
challenges Wednesday, boosting its backers' hopes that the fiercely debated 
legislation might soon win passage and advance to the House.
    Senators first turned back a Republican bid to reduce the number of illegal 
immigrants who could gain lawful status. Hours later, they rejected a Democrat's 
effort to postpone the bill's shift to an emphasis on education and skills among 
visa applicants as opposed to family connections.
    Both amendments were seen as potentially fatal blows to the fragile coalition 
backing the bill, which remains under attack from the right and left. The bill — 
which would tighten borders and give many of the country's estimated 12 million 
illegal immigrants a pathway to legal status — is a priority for President Bush
    The long day and night of votes contained some setbacks for the coalition's 
leaders, however. They failed to defeat a Republican proposal to give law 
enforcement agents access to rejected visa applications, which could lead to 
the arrest and deportation of some illegal immigrants who otherwise might 
escape detection.
    On balance, however, the coalition's "grand bargainers" felt they had 
withstood their toughest challenges. "This means people want a bill very badly,"
said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.  The Senate voted 51-46 to reject a proposal
by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to bar criminals — including those ordered by 
judges to be deported — from gaining legal status. Democrats siphoned support
from Cornyn's proposal by winning adoption of a rival version that would bar a
more limited set of criminals, including certain gang members and sex offenders,
from gaining legalization. The Senate backed that amendment 66-32.
    The Senate also rejected a proposal by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., that
bill supporters called a "killer amendment." It would have delayed the bill's shift 
in favor of attracting foreign workers with needed skills as opposed to keeping
families together. Menendez won 53 votes, seven short of the 60 needed under
a Senate procedural rule invoked by his opponents.
    Menendez's proposal would have allowed more than 800,000 people who 
had applied for permanent legal status by the beginning of 2007 to obtain green
cards based purely on their family connections — a preference the bill ends for
most relatives who got in line after May 2005.
    Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., a chief advocate of the bill, said most of the visa applicants
Menendez wanted to help are so far back in line that it would be decades before
the Homeland Security Department could process them. The Senate adopted
Kyl's alternative, which would retain the family preference status for applicants
who might win approval by 2026 under the department's projections.
    Menendez, whose parents were Cuban immigrants, called the Kyl amendment
"a fig leaf" that would make no meaningful change to the bill.
    Cornyn had painted his criminals amendment as a "defining issue" for any 
presidential candidate — a sign of the degree to which the contentious debate is
bleeding over into the GOP campaign fray.
    Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., alone among his party's presidential aspirants in
backing the immigration measure, opposed Cornyn's bid and backed the 
Democratic alternative offered by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.
    McCain was joined in opposing the amendment by the Senate's four Democratic
presidential hopefuls, Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware , Hillary Rodham Clinton of
New York , Chris Dodd of Connecticut , and Barack Obama of Illinois .
    After his defeat, Cornyn said those who voted against the proposal "failed to 
take an opportunity to help restore public confidence that we're actually serious
about passing an immigration law that could actually work."
    Cornyn prevailed on another matter opposed by the grand bargainers, however.
His amendment, adopted 57 to 39, would make it easier to locate and deport 
illegal immigrants whose visa applications are rejected.
    The bill would have barred law enforcement agencies from seeing applications
for so-called Z visas, which can lead to citizenship if granted. Cornyn said legal
authorities should know if applicants have criminal records that would warrant
their deportation.
    Opponents said eligible applicants might be afraid to file applications if they 
believe they are connected to deportation actions. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 
D-Calif., said in an interview that Cornyn's amendment was "not a deal-killer"
but would have to be changed in House-Senate negotiations.
    Other amendments defeated Wednesday included a Democratic effort to alter 
the temporary guest worker program that would be created by the bill. 
    Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico wanted to allow workers to come for six
consecutive years. The Senate voted 57-41 to reject the amendment, retaining
the bill's call for most guest workers to go home for a year between each of
three two-year stints. 
    The Senate also rejected an amendment by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., to
change the Z visa program whereby illegal immigrants could gain lawful status.
DeMint proposed requiring them to buy high-deductible health plans to be 
eligible for visas.

6/5/07 Associated Press: “Immigration deal under threat in Senate,”
by Julie Hirschfeld Davis
    Washington - A broad bipartisan immigration deal was threatened Tuesday
as the Senate prepared to vote on a Republican proposal to make it harder for
millions of illegal immigrants to qualify for green cards. 
    The proposal by Sen. Wayne Allard (news, bio, voting record), R-Colo., would
eliminate extra points that illegal immigrants could get toward lawful status for work
done while they were in the U.S. illegally, owning a home, or having health insurance.
The proposed merit-based system would award the most credit for employment 
criteria such as education and skill level.
    The Senate also planned to consider a bipartisan bid to require employers to
recruit U.S. workers before giving a foreign laborer a job under the measure's
controversial new temporary worker program.
    Showdowns were expected on Democratic efforts to allow more family-based
immigration under the bill and more Republican proposals to make the path to
legalization for illegal immigrants more burdensome.
    Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., an architect of the bill, said he would 
oppose the family changes despite his sympathy for the efforts.
    "I'm going to stay with the agreement," Kennedy said of the so-called "grand 
bargain" he struck with conservative Sen. Jon Kyl (news, bio, voting record), 
R-Ariz., and other Republicans and Democrats from across the political spectrum.
    That leaves in doubt the fate of a proposal by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J.,
to allow more than 800,000 people who had applied for permanent legal status
by the beginning of the year to get green cards based purely on their family 
connections — a preference the bill ends for most relatives who got in line 
after May 2005.
    A close vote was also expected on a bid by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, to
bar illegal immigrants who have defied deportation orders from gaining legal 
status. That could cut down substantially on the number of unlawful immigrants
who would be able to take advantage of the measure's path to legalization.
    The bill, a top domestic priority for President Bush that poses a perplexing
political dilemma for Republicans and Democrats, is widely regarded as the best
chance for Congress to take action on immigration — possibly for years to come.
    "There are a number of threats and opportunities before us," said Frank 
Sharry of the National Immigration Forum, part of a coalition of liberal groups 
pushing hard for passage despite some grave concerns with the measure.
    Kennedy said lawmakers who listened to their constituents over a Memorial
Day break last week heard that, "the American people want action on immigration
reform."
    "We know that we are facing some challenges," Kennedy said, referring to a
host of amendments that could scuttle the deal.
    "Those of us, the dozen or so, who have put this bill together are finding it very,
very hot to handle," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa.  Specter said he'd like to 
support some of the changes being put forth this week, "but if we're to keep this 
bill intact to the extent of being able to pass it, there are going to be a lot of very
tough votes."
    In addition to Menendez's proposal, several Democratic presidential hopefuls
have proposed family-related changes.
    Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., is proposing allowing more spouses and
minor children of legal permanent residents to immigrate to the U.S. , by exempting
them from visa caps.
    The Senate also is considering a bid by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., to
more than double, to 90,000 a year, the number of green cards available for 
parents of U.S. citizens.
    Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., plans an attempt to phase out the point system that
gives little credit for family ties to a U.S. citizen or permanent legal resident.

5/2/2007 Hawaii Reporter: “Hirono Applauds House Committee Approval of Akaka Bill,”
By Yvonne Lau
    Washington , D.C. --- Calling the Hawaiian federal recognition bill constitutional and 
“the right thing to do,” Congresswoman Mazie Hirono today applauded the decision by
a key House committee to move the measure to the House floor for a vote. 
    Congressman Neil Abercrombie and Hirono are co-sponsors of the measure, known 
as the Akaka bill, in the House. Named after Senator Daniel Akaka, an identical measure 
is set for a hearing tomorrow before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.
    Abercrombie is a member of the House Natural Resources committee, which passed
the bill out with a voice vote without any amendments.
    The bill sets up a process for Native Hawaiians to organize a governmental entity of 
their own choosing.
    It will give Native Hawaiians federal recognition, similar to recognition Congress has 
granted to American Indians and Alaska Natives and protect programs benefiting Native 
Hawaiians from certain lawsuits.
    Hirono said the bill is long overdue, and urged fellow House members to reject 
unfounded criticism that it will impact non-Hawaiians. 
    “There will be no loss of any personal, civil, legal, constitutional or property rights of any
non-Hawaiian or Native Hawaiian alike,” Hirono said. She also pointed out that Native 
Hawaiians are the only significant indigenous group not yet recognized by Congress. 
In written testimony to the Committee, Hirono stated: “Native Hawaiians have suffered too
long and been deprived of rights allowed other Native Americans due to misinformation
and misunderstanding by those who oppose this legislation. I urge this committee to
favorably report out this bill which takes the first step in recognizing the inherent right of
self determination of the Native Hawaiian people.
    It is not only legal and constitutional; it is the right thing to do.”
    Yvonne Lau is a spokesperson for Congressmember Hirono in Washington DC .

4/3/07 Filipino Veterans Equity Act Included in House Budget Resolution for the First Time 
    Washington, DC- The National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity (NAFVE) 
applauded the United States House of Representatives for passing a resolution that 
included a marker for the Filipino Veterans Equity Act (HR 760). It ensures that the 
Equity Act will be part of the ongoing budgetary process and that funds are specifically 
set aside for our veterans in the House version of the bill. The Senate version, S 57, 
is currently in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, with hearings scheduled for 
April 11. HR 760 would amend current law to consider Filipino World War II veterans 
as U.S. veterans for purposes of eligibility for programs administered by the U.S. 
Department of Veterans Affairs. 

3/31/2007 Associated Press: " The bill was first brought to the House floor last week. Although it garnered 
a majority of votes (234-188), it did not achieve the two-thirds needed for 
passage of noncontroversial bills that are brought up under suspension of the 
House rules. Abercrombie and Hirono were successful in having the House 
leadership bring the bill back to the floor this week and in arguing to the 
House Rules Committee that no amendments be allowed.
    Congressman Abercrombie pointed out that 39 of the 162 Republicans 
who voted against reauthorizing the housing program in 2007 had actually 
cosponsored its creation in 2000.
    During debate on the bill last night, Congresswoman Hirono refuted claims 
that the bill was unconstitutional or that it had anything to do with the Rice v. 
Cayetano decision, as some opponents had claimed. "I am pleased with the 
strong support we were able to get on this vote," said Hirono. "It is clear to me, 
however, that many members don't understand the history of interactions of 
Native Hawaiians and the federal government. We will continue to work to try 
to educate these members. It is also clear to me that we have members who 
do not support self-determination for Native Hawaiians and no amount of 
education will change their minds." 
    The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration by that chamber.  

3/22/07 press release: “Asian American Justice Center Encouraged by New Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, the STRIVE Act of 2007”
    Washington, March 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), a leading national civil and human rights organization, is encouraged by today's bipartisan introduction of the STRIVE (Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy) Act of 2007 by Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ).
    This comprehensive immigration reform bill contains provisions that provide regularized legal channels for new immigrants to help strengthen the American economy, reforms the employment and family-based immigration system, and adjusts the status of eligible undocumented immigrants.
    "We applaud Congressmen Gutierrez and Flake for working together to create a truly comprehensive piece of legislation.
    While we will be working to address some of our concerns about certain provisions in the bill, it is a strong start toward the passage of comprehensive immigration reform legislation in 2007," said Karen Narasaki, President and Executive Director of the AAJC. "It is imperative that Congress passes legislation this year to fix our broken system with workable solutions that live up to our nation's values."
    Based on an initial examination of the proposed legislation, there are several measures that will especially benefit the 13.9 million-strong Asian American community:
    First, it includes provisions that would eliminate the backlog for family- based immigrants in approximately six years.  The backlog for some Asian American families is currently more than 20 years. In addition, this bill would finally help reunite the sons and daughters of the Filipino World War II veterans with their aging parents after years of separation and waiting.
    Second, it would provide an earned legalization program. There are an estimated 1.5 million undocumented Asian immigrants that it could potentially help. However, among many organizations, there is concern that the provision requiring an exit and re-entry will be unworkable.
    Third, it provides for a more realistic flow of workers in both the high- and low-skilled categories. It also builds in strong labor and civil rights protections and allows workers who want to stay and are needed for our economy to become legal permanent residents Asian immigrants are substantial users of the employment-based immigration system.
    Fourth, through the inclusion of the Dream Act, this bill provides a path to legal permanent residence for undocumented immigrant students who currently are unable to attend college, no matter how long the U.S. has been their home. The Dream Act has been strongly supported by the Korean American community.
    "While the bill does have the right architecture and rejects the most excessive so-called enforcement provisions that were contained in last year's House bill, we believe this debate is an opportunity to address the policies that place too much unchecked power in the hands of agency officials," said Narasaki. "We want to make sure that any reform of the immigration laws fully incorporates the American tradition of respecting and protecting the rights of individuals to fair proceedings, government accountability, and due process."
    Although the House of Representatives passed the anti-immigrant H.R. 4437 in 2005 and the Senate passed a more comprehensive but deeply flawed S. 2611 last year, neither bill became law. The STRIVE Act launches a renewed effort to achieve immigration reform that is truly comprehensive, effective and fair.
    "We would like to see improvements to current law regarding detention and deportation. Currently, in many cases, people are deported without full consideration of an individual's circumstances.
    Current laws against immigrants go too far and deny basic due process to millions of people who live in the U.S. ," said George C. Wu, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Partners Community Law Fellow at the AAJC.
    "Denying due process to people in America is unconstitutional, unnecessary, and demeans all of us who are proud to live in America ."
    Asian Americans can join thousands of other concerned Americans in contacting their Congressional Representatives and Senators on March 28 and 29, by calling 1(800) 417-7666.
    The Asian American Justice Center (http://www.advancingequality.org), formerly known as NAPALC, is a national organization dedicated to defending and advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans. It works closely with three affiliates - the Asian American Institute in Chicago (http://www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus (http://www.asianlawcaucus.org) in San Francisco, and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (http://www.apalc.org) in Los Angeles - and nearly 100 community partners in 49 cities, 23 states and Washington, D.C.

3/7/07 Rep. Honda to Introduce Bill Supporting Korean Victims of Immigration Fraud
    Washington, DC – This Thursday, March 8, 2007, Representative Michael M. Honda 
(CA – 15) will introduce legislation that would provide relief to a group of Korean victims 
of immigration fraud.  Over a twelve year period, an INS supervisor accepted $500,000 
in bribes from immigration brokers in exchange for green cards that he later illegally 
authorized.  The supervisor and four immigration consultants were convicted of 
participating in this green-card scam, which affected 275 unknowing Korean 
immigrants, many of whom are accomplished professionals.  Many of these legal 
immigrants now face imminent deportation due to fraud on the part of a government 
officer.  Rep. Honda's legislation would restore the status of the victims as if the fraud 
had not occurred.

2/15/07 National Alliance Mobilizes Around Congressional Hearings to Pass 
the Filipino Veterans Equity Act 
    Washington, DC—The newly formed National Alliance for Filipino Veterans 
Equity ("the National Alliance") announced its support for Congressional Hearings 
for HR 760, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act. The bill was introduced on January 31,
and would provide U.S. Veterans status for Filipinos who fought in World War II for 
purposes of benefits. Congressman Bob Filner (D-CA) announced February 15 
hearings for the bill as Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. 
    "The Alliance has brought together a broad base of support from the community 
to support passage of the Filipino Veterans Equity Act," said Jon Melegrito, Co-Chair 
of the Alliance . "We are pleased that Congressman Filner has continued to be a 
champion for this bill and has called for hearings. We are thankful to all of the 
members in Congress who have supported this important issue, notably Speaker 
Nancy Pelosi, Rep. Mike Honda, who heads the Congressional Asian Pacific 
American Caucus, and Sen. Daniel Inouye who have consistently introduced an 
equity bill in the Senate. We applaud their leadership in keeping the Filipino 
veterans cause alive." 
    "This month marks the 61st anniversary of passage of the 1946 Rescission Act, 
which took away the veterans status that was originally promised to Filipino veterans 
when President Roosevelt conscripted them to help in the Pacific theater during 
World War II," said Lilian Galedo, the other National Alliance Co-Chair. "With many 
of this bill's champions in Congress now holding key positions to help move this bill, 
the time is right to restore justice for our veterans and reaffirm America's commitment 
to all those who bravely served the U.S. in times of war." 
    The National Alliance represents over 20 local, national and international 
organizations committed to securing full equity for Filipino World War II Veterans. All 
the groups have been part of a 60-year campaign to restore to Filipino WWII veterans 
their rightful claim to U.S. veterans status and recognition for their bravery in defending 
the United States during WWII. The National Alliance's sole purpose is to pass the 
long overdue Filipino Veterans Equity Act.

2/8/07: Filipino Veterans Equity Bill.  Rep. Bob Filner, Chair, Veterans Committee 
Chair, sponsor of the Filipino Equity Bill, will have a hearing of the Bill in the US 
Congress on February 15, 2007.  Co-sponsors includes Rep. Robert C. Scott, 
a Filipino American Democrat from Virginia , Hampton Roads Area, Mike Honda, 
(D-California), and Rep. Mazie Hirono, (D-Hawaii).

1/25/07 St. Louis Chinese American News: “Rep. Wu Introduces Legislation To Support 
Asian American and Pacific Islander Students,”
    Legislation provides grants to higher education institutions serving low-income and 
underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander student populations
         Washington , DC - Today Congressman David Wu introduced the Asian American 
and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions bill that would provide grants to institutions of 
higher education for their efforts to improve and expand services targeting Asian 
American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students. Specifically, Congressman Wu's 
legislation will help institutions identify and assist low-income and underserved AAPI 
students. Similar programs currently only serve other minority populations.
        "The Asian American and Pacific Islander community has and will always be an 
integral and vibrant part of American society," stated Congressman Wu. "I am pleased 
to introduce legislation that will help foster further contributions by those members of 
the AAPI population that our educational system has neglected."
        Current law allows the U.S. Department of Education to provide similar financial 
assistance to institutions which serve African American, Hispanic, Native American, 
Alaskan Native and Hawaiian Native students. Higher education institutions serving 
large numbers of AAPI students have not had access to this financial aid in part 
because of socioeconomic assumptions that categorize a complex youth population 
of over three million as a homogenous, academically successful unit that is not in 
need of academic support systems.
        Thus, the current educational support system fails to address the needs of specific 
ethnic groups within the AAPI population. A Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
study of the 2000 Census found great differences of education attainment among the 
different ethic groups of the AAPI population. For example, only 26% of Laotian and 
28% of Cambodian Americans have had some college as compared to 63.6% of 
Chinese and 51.8% of the national average. The study also found that 26.2% of 
Cambodian and 45% of Hmong Americans indicated that they have no formal 
schooling, as compared to 1.4% nationally.
        "The grants acquired through the AAPI Serving Institutions bill would increase 
higher education opportunities for low-income and underserved AAPI students by 
funding culturally and linguistically appropriate services," said Congressman Mike 
Honda (CA-15), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. "This 
bill is an acknowledgement that educational disparities do in fact exist within the 
AAPI community. It would enable America to pursue her noble goal of equal educational 
opportunities for all students, particularly for those who fall behind due to socio-
economic and cultural barriers."
        Congressman Wu's legislation is currently supported by 5 original cosponsors: 
Representatives Mike Honda, Neil Abercrombie, Jim McDermott, Betty McCollum 
and Zoe Lofgren.

12/6/06 Sacramento Bee: “Bill passed to save WWII camps; Japanese American internment sites will be preserved,”
by David Whitney
    Congress completed action Tuesday on legislation to preserve and protect the remnants of one of the darkest chapt