03/30/2005 HEALTHCARE IMMIGRATION ALERT:
RETROGRESSION LEGISLATION: PHOTO FINISH

Immigration Alerts and Medical Monthly Monitor readers have surely been following HLG's push for Retrogression legislation that recaptures past unused immigrant visa numbers. For those who wish to get acquainted with the issue, a series of article links are posted at the end of this article.

Two of our allies in the Senate have taken the lead on the issue. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have begun a multi-tier strategy to enact the recapture legislation. They have worked closely with our coalition, which includes many prominent immigration attorneys, major health care facilities, the American Hospital Association, large healthcare recruiters and other interested parties.

Sens. Hutchison and Schumer seek to amend the forthcoming "must pass" Iraqi Appropriation legislation with our proposal. For instance, they may attach our bill to a Senate version of the REAL-ID Act, if the Senators believe that the passage of REAL-ID is a forgone conclusion. REAL-ID is a comprehensive Homeland Security bill that includes restricting immigrant drivers licenses, building a fence along the southern border, and reform of the US' asylum programs.

The biggest immediate hurdle to our recapture legislation is that there are some in Congress who want a major stand-alone piece of immigration-reform legislation. This legislation could include REAL-ID, an Agricultural worker bill, an H-2B reform bill, and perhaps even the immigrant-friendly DREAM Act.

On the other hand, all of these pieces of immigration legislation could be voted on shortly. For instance, this morning's edition of Congress Daily reported that there are some in Congress who are pushing for an immediate 60-vote-to-pass "up or down" vote on each of these pieces of immigration legislation.

At this point, immigration-healthcare reform legislation could happen next week. Please contact your Congressional representatives to make sure that they are aware of your interest in this important issue.
 

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