Category Archives: Legislation

House Passes Bipartisan Veterans Legislation Cosponsored by Shea-Porter

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 21, 2013 - 7:34 pm | , , , , ,
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Carol Shea-Porter_Official.2010-300x288

Carol Shea-Porter_Official.2010-300x288Bills to support job training for veterans, benefit wounded veterans, and recognize WWII heroes 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1344 and H.R. 324, bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter to recognize World War II heroes and make air travel easier for wounded and disabled veterans. Shea-Porter also voted in support of H.R. 1412, legislation to improve job opportunities for veterans.

“I’m proud to support these bipartisan bills,” Shea-Porter said. “They reflect our respect, appreciation, and commitment towards America’s veterans.”

H.R. 1412, the Improving Job Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2013, would improve and increase the availability of on-job training and apprenticeship programs carried out by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

H.R. 1344 would direct the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to develop processes to help severely injured or disabled current and former members of the Armed Forces pass through airport security. H.R. 324 would grant the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the First Special Service Force, in recognition of its superior service during World War II. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions to our country.

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Congresswoman Shea-Porter has consistently advocated for America’s troops and veterans. In the 110th and 111th Congresses, Shea-Porter worked to provide New Hampshire veterans with increased in-state access to medical care and an expanded GI Bill of Rights. This year, she has cosponsored legislation that would guarantee veterans access to in-state college tuition rates, expand access to mental health services, and allow the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize same-sex marriages.

37 Attempts At A Repeal Of The ACA And Still No Jobs Bill

  By Matt Murray | May 17, 2013 - 2:00 pm | , ,
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House Speaker John Boehner

The fiscally responsible Republican party is always looking for ways to reduce government waste.  They search for any ‘fraud, waste and abuse’ inside the federal government in an effort to reduce the budget.  Even after they make statements about how we need to become more focused on jobs in Washington, they once again vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act.  This makes attempt number 37 for those counting.

“This vote was a waste of New Hampshire taxpayers’ time and money,”  Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter said.

The act of voting on this repeal has already cost the taxpayers over 60 million dollars (37 votes times 1.75 million in cost per vote equal 64.75 million).  I wonder what 60 million dollars would do to help some of the programs the sequester is cutting.  In fact the money wasted on repealing the ACA is more than enough to cover the cuts made to the meals on wheels program (41 million).  I wonder if this $60 million would be enough to keep the 70,000 kids in the head start programs that they are being forced out of.

Wasting our time and money aside the ACA is a good start.  According to the White House, the ACA will help over 30 million Americans who do not already have healthcare.  Right now over 86 million Americans have added protections to their healthcare coverage thanks to the ACA.  They can no longer deny you for a pre-existing condition. They can no longer charge different amounts for women or men.  They have helped millions of seniors save an average of $600 a year by closing the prescription drug ‘donut hole’.  These are just of a few of the benefits we Americans are gaining thanks to the ACA.

Congresswoman Annie Kuster stated after the vote:

“I am extremely frustrated that House leadership is more interested in refighting old political battles than actually solving problems. Instead of wasting more time and money on another vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, both parties should be focused on growing the economy, helping create jobs and opportunity, and strengthening the middle class.

Congresswoman Shea-Porter chastised the House leadership in her statement.  “Instead of voting 37 times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Republicans should listen to the American people who want Congress to help create jobs and end sequestration. Republican House Speaker John Boehner should stop political posturing and put a jobs bill on the floor.”

Congresswomen Kuster and Shea-Porter are exactly right. They have voted 37 times to repeal the ACA and wasted 15% of their time in Washington in a futile attempt to repeal the law.

Congresswoman Kuster continued, “voting to undo these vital reforms will do nothing to improve our health care system, and only serves to reinforce peoples’ worst assumptions about Congress’s willingness to put politics ahead of middle class families.”

I want to see Congress do something to help the working families in America by pushing for a comprehensive jobs bill, not another repeal attempt.  Almost all of the people in Washington ran on creating new jobs and yet there has not been one vote on a jobs bill.  And you wonder why the Congressional approval rating is so low.

Overtime vs. Comp Time: US House Pushes To Take Away Overtime Pay

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 11, 2013 - 8:52 am | , , ,
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Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL)
Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL)

Congresswoman Martha Roby (R-AL)

This week the US House passed legislation to strike down advances made by unions and workers for decades.  Through collective bargaining workers have made significant advances in the areas of time off and overtime pay. The US House, led by their Tea Party Speaker John Boehner, want to take that away.

On Wednesday May 8th, the US House passed HR 1406. The aptly named ‘Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013‘ or aka the ‘Work More for Less Pay Act’.  The bill would effectively allow employers to pay workers in compensatory time off in lieu of overtime.  The proponents of the bill say this would allow workers the ability to bank time gained by working overtime to be used at a later date.

Rep Martha Roby (R-AL) introduced the bill by stating:

“Talk to just about any working mom and dad and they’ll tell you they need more time. They need just one more hour in the day to be able to take care of responsibilities and make life work. We can’t legislate another hour in the day, but we can help working Americans better balance their time by removing unnecessary federal restrictions on comp time in the private sector.”

I would beg to differ on this.  One of the reasons that people do not have enough time in the day is because their level of productivity is continually to being pushed higher and higher.  Now with the invention of smartphones workers are spending more and more of their ‘free time’ to answer phone calls and emails.   CBS News in Chicago highlighted a case in court right now that would force employers to pay workers for time spent answering emails and phone calls after hours. However that is a completely different story.

HR 1406 is said to give freedom to the worker, in reality it saves the employer money by not having to pay out mandatory time and a half overtime rates.  The bill also does not guarantee the employee the right to take time off when they actually need it.

A senior economist for the Center for Economic and Policy Research writes, “Its major effect would be to hamstring workers — likely increasing overtime hours for those who don’t want them and cutting pay for those who do.” (TNDP.ORG)

NH Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) opposes this legislation in part due to the  lack of language allowing the employee to use the time for personal appointments.

“Giving up overtime pay is a big deal for workers, and in return they aren’t even guaranteed they’ll get to use their comp time when they really need it,” Shea-Porter said.  “This is not flexibility for workers. It’s less pay for workers. I urge Speaker Boehner to bring bills to the floor that actually help middle class families by creating jobs and ending sequestration.”

In fact, Congresswoman Shea-Porter offered an amendment to HR 1406, that was crushed by the GOP, that would  not allow employers to deny workers from using ‘comp time’ to attend:

  • Attend a medical appointment
  • Care for a sick child or family member
  • For veterans, to attend counseling or rehabilitation appointments for injuries suffered in combat.

On the floor of the House Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) said “this is one of the saddest days this House of Representatives has ever seen“.

Working families are struggling to pay their bills. Too many are living paycheck to paycheck, and now they want to steal more money out of their paychecks.  For some people overtime pay is what is keeping their heads above water, and this would push millions of working families into a deeper hole.

I applaud all the Representatives who opposed this legislation in the House.  These Reps are the ones who are standing up for struggling working families.  These Reps truly understand the harm that legislation like this would have on all working families.  I hope that the Senate will send this bill to where it truly belongs, the trash.

Granite State Moms Tell Senator Ayotte “No Mother Should Have to Bury Her Child”

  By Granite State Progress | May 10, 2013 - 8:02 pm | ,
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Mothers Day Cards

Mothers Day Cards Just Days Before Some Families Face First Mother’s Day Without Child Due to Gun Violence, Mothers and Concerned Family Members Deliver Cards to Senator Kelly Ayotte Calling on Her to Support Life-Saving Background Checks

 NASHUA, NH – New Hampshire mothers, children and others publicly delivered Mother’s Day cards to Senator Kelly Ayotte’s Nashua office today, calling on the Senator to support life-saving background checks. The event was created by local gun violence prevention advocates who wanted to do something in solidarity for families who would be spending their first Mother’s Day without a child or family member due to gun violence.

Last month Senator Ayotte voted against bipartisan legislation proposed by NRA A-rated Senators Joe Manchin and Pat Toomey that would have closed the loopholes that make it easy for criminals and dangerous people to get guns. Over 89 percent of Senator Ayotte’s constituents support background checks.

Reading a statement on behalf of New Hampshire mothers and allies, Nona Storer of Nashua said:

“Senator Ayotte, no mother should have to bury her child. This Mother’s Day, our hearts go out to all the mothers whose children were murdered with guns. The moms of Columbine. Virginia Tech. Tucson. Aurora. Newtown. And the mothers of the 33 people who are murdered with guns every day in this country. Now is the time for Congress to stand with moms across the country instead of with the NRA. Please support background checks for all gun sales.”

Storer and others then delivered more than 250 Mother’s Day cards signed by constituents from across the state, each bearing a similar message to the Senator. Several local community members also delivered their own, handmade cards urging Senator Ayotte to take action to reduce gun violence.

To mark Mother’s Day, Mayors Against Illegal Guns has also released a video message by Roxanna Green, whose nine year-old daughter Christina-Taylor Green was killed in the 2011 Tucson mass shooting.

Rep Shea-Porter Votes Against The ‘More Work, Less Pay’ Act HR 1406

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 8, 2013 - 9:47 pm | , , ,
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copy-labor-union-7.jpg

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tonight, Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter stood up for working families in New Hampshire by voting against H.R. 1406, the “More Work, Less Pay” Act.

The bill would effectively end the 40-hour work week and offer workers comp time in lieu of overtime pay. But the legislation does not guarantee that workers will be able to use the time they have earned when they need it the most.  Instead, the comp time earned by workers would go into a pot that will be controlled by their employer. Under this legislation, employers can refuse to allow a worker to take time off to care for a family member or attend a parent-teacher conference.

“Giving up overtime pay is a big deal for workers, and in return they aren’t even guaranteed they’ll get to use their comp time when they really need it,” Shea-Porter said.  “This is not flexibility for workers. It’s less pay for workers. I urge Speaker Boehner to bring bills to the floor that actually help middle class families by creating jobs and ending sequestration.”

To improve this misguided legislation, Congresswoman Shea-Porter offered the final amendment that would not allow employers to deny workers use of earned compensation time to:

  • Attend a medical appointment
  • Care for a sick child or family member
  • For veterans, to attend counseling or rehabilitation appointments for injuries suffered in combat.

Unfortunately, the amendment was blocked by the Republican House Majority.

President Obama has pledged to veto the “More Work, Less Pay” Act, and more than 160 national and state organizations oppose it, including women’s organization, labor organizations, and civil rights organizations.

Kuster Unveils Legislative Package to Address VA Claims Backlog

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 3, 2013 - 1:27 pm | , ,
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Marine Veteran Saluting Flag

Proposals includes bill introduced by Kuster to improve automation of claims processing

Marine Veteran Saluting FlagAs part of her commitment to serving our nation’s veterans, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) and a group of lawmakers on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee are announcing a coordinated legislative package to help the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) in its efforts to address the growing claims backlog. The package of ten bills seeks to help the VA meet its goal of eliminating the backlog in full by 2015, and includes legislation introduced by Congresswoman Kuster that would encourage the VA to make greater use of automation in the processing of veterans claims, increasing efficiency within the Department and freeing up resources to provide more timely services for veterans.

“As a nation, we have no higher responsibility than to serve our courageous veterans as well as they have served us,” Kuster said. “Meeting that responsibility demands that both parties come together to help address the growing claims backlog so that we can more efficiently deliver veterans the benefits they have earned. That’s exactly with our legislative package will help do, and I’m proud to join so many of my colleagues in taking this important step forward.”

“As a new member of Congress, Rep. Kuster has repeatedly proven her commitment to supporting our nation’s veterans,” said Rep. Mike Michaud (ME-02), ranking member on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “Her bill to improve the automation of claims processing will help advance our effort to eliminate the VA claims backlog, and I am grateful for her commitment to this critical issue.”

“I am thrilled that our Congresswoman is being so proactive on this issue that has plagued veterans for years,” added New Hampshire State Rep. Steve Shurtleff of Penacook, a Vietnam veteran. “Taking these steps in the right direction is essential to ensuring that our veterans have access to the medical care they need and deserve.”

The legislative package seeks to bolster VA’s current efforts to modernize and foster further innovation in order to get veterans’ claims and compensation settled faster. Some bills would have an immediate impact, some over the next two years, and others are designed to be long-term approaches to prevent future backlogs. Goals of the legislative package include:

  • Ensuring VA has the needed information to accurately process claims by requiring better interagency collaboration between VA and entities such as DoD;
  • Encouraging VA to look at better ways to process claims in an electronic system; and
  • Strengthening accountability by requiring VA to track information in a more efficient and effective way that is provided to the public.

The 10 bills introduced and soon to be introduced include:

 

Encouraging the automation of certain VA claims (Rep. Kuster) – requires VA to provide an annual report to list those medical conditions that are processed in an electronic automated fashion, the feasibility/consideration for adding additional medical conditions, and any barriers barring VA from adding those medical conditions that are not automated.

IMPACT: The reporting would require VA to consider how and if any of the medical conditions that they adjudicate could be automated or simplified. Any work that can be automated or simplified will allow VA to focus limited resources on the more challenging workload.

 

VA Claims, Operations and Records Efficiency Act (Rep. Kirkpatrick) – requires DoD to provide certified, complete, and electronic records to VA within 21 days.

IMPACT: Would substantially reduce the amount of time spent waiting for DoD to provide information in a timely manner.

 

Claims adjudication Centers of Excellence (Rep. Michaud) – requires VBA to establish a pilot for Conditions Adjudication Centers of Excellence that would focus on the 10 most complex and time consuming medical conditions.

IMPACT: The pilot would utilize the highest performing offices to adjudicate the most difficult medical conditions, such as PTSD and TBI, encouraging the VA to specialize claims processing by condition, reduce the time it takes to adjudicate these conditions, and decrease the error rates on difficult claims.

 

Pay veterans as medical conditions are adjudicated (Rep. Titus) – requires VA to pay for medical conditions as they are adjudicated in an electronic system.

IMPACT: Currently, veterans receive payment when all medical conditions within a claim are fully adjudicated. This legislation will require VA to pay veterans as individual medical conditions are adjudicated, which will pay veterans at a faster rate.

 

Expedite claims processing by educating veterans on the quickest route to receive their decision (Rep. O’Rourke) – provides veterans with information regarding VA’s timeliness for adjudicating claims in different formats such as paper application or online utilizing the Fully Developed Claims program.

IMPACT: Would encourage and educate veterans to utilize methods that may increase the timeliness of their claims.

 

H.R. 1521 (Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney) – extends VA’s authority to contract for medical disability examinations by five years.

IMPACT: VA’s ability to have contractors provide medical exams increases the availability and timeliness of those exams. VA needs the support of the contract exams to reach the goal of processing all claims within 125 days by 2015. Without this reauthorization, VA medical examinations would overwhelm the VA health-care system.

 

H.R. 1623 (Rep. Negrete-McLeod) – requires VA to provide numerous data points in an online setting that would better detail the backlog, the timeliness and accuracy of VA regional offices, and timeliness and accuracy of adjudicating specific medical conditions.

IMPACT: The reporting would provide both the VA, the public, and policy-makers with better clarity on the backlog and the specific claims that are proving to be a challenge. This additional level of detail was not available in the legacy paper system. VA indicates that this level of clarity should be available in VBMS. This would insure that VBA builds in the capability of understanding the workload at this level of granularity and ultimately may lead to gains in efficiency by better understanding the backlog and ways to address it.

 

Require VA to maximize the use of private medical evidence (Rep. Walz) – amends title 38, United States Code, section 5103A(d)(1) to provide that, when a claimant submits private medical evidence, including a private medical opinion, that is competent, credible, probative, and otherwise adequate for rating purposes, the Secretary shall not request a VA medical examination.

IMPACT: Would conserve resources and enable quicker, more accurate rating decisions for veterans.

 

Require annual reports on VA regional offices that fail to meet backlog reduction goals (Rep. Meng) – requires annual reports on VA regional offices that are not meeting their administrative goal of no claim taking longer than 125 days with 98% accuracy. Details would be required explaining why the office did not meet the goal, what they need to meet it, and how failure to meet the goal was considered in regards to the VARO Director’s performance appraisal.

IMPACT: The reporting requirement would serve as a motivator for leadership to meet their administrative goal. It would also provide additional information in regards to the backlog at the individual VARO level and the information could assist policy-makers in considering additional solutions to reduce the backlog and provide better services to veterans.

 

Require Detailed Reporting on VA Information Requests to Federal Agencies (Rep. Ruiz) – requires VA to track all information requests to other federal entities.

IMPACT: Would require VA to provide quarterly updates to Congress in regards to the timeliness of other agencies in fulfilling their information requests. Veteran’s claims are often untimely because VA is waiting for other agencies to provide information. By having more definitive data, VA and Congress can work to reduce these bottlenecks.

Kuster is a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.

Former Labor Commissioner Casey Speaks Out On Expanded Gambling In NH

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 3, 2013 - 7:00 am | ,
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roulette wheel casino

By Jim Casey

In just a few weeks, the New Hampshire House of Representatives will have a great opportunity to stand up for working men and women by passing SB 152, the bill to bring casino gaming to New Hampshire. Polls show the people of New Hampshire are strongly in favor of this proposal, and our legislators would do well to listen to their constituents. Independent projections show that SB152 will create thousands of good jobs, and bring in millions of dollars in revenue to fund critical state priorities like education. The New Hampshire House should do the right thing for their constituents and vote to pass SB152.

According to the most recent UNH poll from April 12, 63% of Granite Staters support expanded gaming. Most (53%) would support a casino in their own home town, and support is above 57% in every region of the state. Contrast this with the 17% of Granite Staters who prefer to increase state revenue through an income tax (from the February 11 UNH poll). Clearly, SB152 is what the people want.

Opponents of casino gaming, however, could care less about the people’s preference. Every day we hear another shrill admonition from the anti-gaming lobby that the so-called “social costs” of a casino will outweigh the revenue and job creating benefits. They are wrong, and I question their motivations. The anti-gaming lobby happens to be made up of the same vocal minority who want an income tax in New Hampshire. People like Jim Rubens, Lew Feldstein, and Cathy Silber have all been vocal leaders of income tax movement, and they’re the very same people behind groups like “Casino Free NH” and “Granite State Coalition Against Expanded Gambling.”

These wealthy income tax crusaders don’t need the jobs SB152 will create, and they won’t feel the impact of drastic cuts to state services. They talk about “social costs,” but they won’t feel the cost of rising unemployment. They arrogantly believe they know better than the majority of Granite Staters who support expanded gaming, and they’re willing to spend huge sums of cash to influence our legislature.

The reality is, a majority of the people of New Hampshire support expanded gambling because they know this proposal will bring incredible benefits to our state by counteracting rising unemployment and helping to fund important priorities like education.

The most recent numbers from the Department of Employment Security show a half-percent increase in unemployment compared to 2012. This disturbing trend underscores the critical importance of creating jobs in New Hampshire. SB152 will bring $425 million in private investment into our state, and create thousands of jobs. Estimates from Strategic Market Advisors, a consulting firm working on gaming issues, show that SB152 will create a total of 3,165 on-site construction jobs. That number increases to 4,820 when you consider the impact of increased economic activity due to the construction project. Another 2,000 permanent full-time equivalent jobs will be created to operate the casino. With an estimated 43,000 unemployed workers in our state, these jobs can’t come soon enough.

SB152 will also boost state revenues significantly, allowing us to restore critical funding to our education system and prevent hospitals from taking an increased hit from uncompensated care costs. The Office of Legislative Budget Assistant and the New Hampshire Lottery Commission project $135 million in revenue as early as 2015, including a guaranteed $80 million licensing fee. Annual state revenues are estimated at $152 million per year by 2017, and are expected to grow. Our state desperately needs this revenue. Without it, we’ll be forced to cut $12 million from our university system, $30 million from hospitals, and $7.5 million from school building aid. The cost of underfunding our children’s education and our health care system will cost our society dearly over the long run.

The leaders of the anti-gaming lobby don’t care about creating jobs for New Hampshire workers. They don’t care about the immediate funding crisis our state faces. They would rather see increased strain on state services because it helps their argument that New Hampshire needs an income tax. The vast majority of Granite Staters support expanded gaming and oppose an income tax. Our legislators should stand with their constituents and vote to pass SB152. Doing so will create thousands of badly needed jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in critical state revenue, and will keep an income tax at bay. It’s what the people want. I hope our legislators side with us.

Rep Annie Kuster Introduces Bill To Strengthen Workforce Development And Job Training

  By New Hampshire Labor News | April 26, 2013 - 10:11 am | , , , ,
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Annie Kuster Introducing Bill

Training 21st Century Workforce Critical for Granite State’s Economy

Highlights new legislation that would strengthen workforce development, job training

 

After introducing the Workforce Development Investment Act to strengthen job training for students in the Granite State, Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) this week spoke on the House floor to underscore the importance of training a highly-skilled, 21st century workforce.

“The Workforce Development Investment Act would give tax incentives to firms that partner with educators to improve workforce development and job training for students,” Kuster said. “When we invest in our workforce, more employers will invest in the United States and in the Granite State; our students will be more competitive in the job market; our businesses will be more successful in the global economy.”

“Right now, there are companies like W.H. Bagshaw in Nashua, New Hampshire that are looking to hire, but struggling to find workers with the right skills for the job,” Kuster continued. “My bill would help close this skills gap by providing incentives for business to team up with educators to teach our students the skills they need to compete and succeed.”

The Workforce Development Investment Act would provide up to $10,000 in annual tax credits to employers that partner with community colleges or other institutions of higher education to improve workforce development for students by:

  • Helping develop curriculum;
  • Assisting with instruction in the classroom; and
  • Providing internships, apprenticeships, or other hands-on educational opportunities for students

Kuster has made workforce development one of her top priorities in Congress. Over the last few months, she has toured and met with staff and students at Keene State College’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM), Nashua Community College (NCC), and New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI), as well as advanced manufacturers all across the Granite State.

At Legislator Luncheon, NH Labor Pushes For ‘Job Creating’ Casino Bill

  By New Hampshire Labor News | April 24, 2013 - 5:53 pm | , , ,
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Credit Joe Casey
Credit Joe Casey

Credit Joe Casey

Organized labor united in support of “job creating” bill, makes case for expanded gaming at legislative luncheon

Nearly 300 State Representatives packed the State House Cafeteria today for a legislative luncheon in support of SB152, the bill to create jobs and state revenue by licensing a casino in New Hampshire. The luncheon was sponsored by the New Hampshire labor community, and included presentations from Senator Donna Soucy, NEA President Scott McGilvray, SEA representative Jay Ward, Building Trades President and IBEW 490 Business Manager Joe Casey, Representative Ed Butler, and Matthew Landry of Strategic Market Advisors.

NH Building and Construction Trades Council President Joe Casey issued the following statement:

“The turnout today was incredible, even though we were forced to change the venue at the last minute. It’s clear that support for SB152 is building in the House. The Representatives who attended today understand that SB152 will create thousands of jobs and create a critical revenue stream to fund our state’s priorities.

The New Hampshire labor community is united in support of this bill, and the luncheon today was a great opportunity to showcase that. I was proud to stand alongside Scott McGilvray and Jay Ward, and to speak to the importance of this bill to our memberships. For our part, the construction industry needs our legislators to support SB152 in order to create more than $425 million in private investment that will create thousands of jobs. Estimates show SB152 will create 3,165 on-site construction jobs, 567 indirect construction jobs, another 1,087 jobs through increased economic activity due to construction, and 1,949 full time ongoing jobs in operating the casino. Our legislators have an opportunity to stand with New Hampshire’s working men and women by passing SB152, and the great showing we had at the luncheon today shows that many of them are ready to do that.

The anti-gaming lobby tried every dirty trick in the book to try and stop this luncheon from happening – even stooping to bullying St. Paul’s church into canceling it. Their support is slipping every day, and they’re desperate to stop us from being heard. But we will not be intimidated, and we will make sure there is a full, open, and honest debate on this issue in spite of their dirty tactics. We expect to see more of their big money misinformation campaign in the coming weeks, but the people of New Hampshire support this proposal, and momentum is clearly building among our legislators. No amount of dirty tricks and robo calls from the anti-casino lobby can stop that. ”

Sponsors of today’s event include:

NH Building and Construction Trades Council
IBEW 104
IBEW 490
IBEW 2320
Granite State Teamsters
Ironworkers Local 7
NEA NH
NH Troopers Association
Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 131
Professional Fire Fighters of NH
State Employees Association

NH Program Calls Immigration Bill “a Modest Start”

  By New Hampshire Labor News | April 18, 2013 - 5:00 pm | , ,
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Copyrights AFSC
Copyrights AFSC

Copyrights AFSC

New Immigration Bill Includes Support for Families and Workers, Yet Would Continue Key Failures of Current System

Path to Citizenship Must Reflect More Humane Principles

Following the formal release of immigration legislation today, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) called the bill “a modest start,” noting provisions that address family unification and workers’ rights and create a narrow path to citizenship for some immigrants. But the Quaker groups said the bill also reproduces many of the current failed immigration policies, making it a far cry from the just and humane reforms that immigrant communities, faith, labor and advocacy groups have been calling for.

“The Senate bill makes meaningful improvements for immigrants with temporary protected status, undocumented youth, and agricultural workers by providing a fast track to legal permanent residency.  However, it would not end the current cruel, costly and inefficient system of detention and deportation, or the militarization of the border that has devastated communities on both sides of the border,” said Maggie Fogarty of the organization’s New Hampshire Program.

Fogarty said the 844-page bill not only doubles down on some failed policies, it also elevates them to the status of mandatory measurable triggers, including universal E-Verify, a 90 percent border ‘security’ metric, and a new entry-exit port system.  “It would waste billions on drones, costly high-tech gadgetry, additional fencing, and personnel,” she said.

According to AFSC, the bill does offer greater accountability and oversight of border enforcement, a long-standing demand by immigrant communities and their allies.  It would establish a task force of border community stakeholders to evaluate and make recommendations regarding immigration policies along the border.

“Since 2010, the Border Patrol has claimed the lives of 20 unarmed civilians, and no official has been held accountable for these deaths,” Fogarty said.  “Federal agents seemingly operate with impunity, systematically violating the human rights and civil liberties of border residents.”

The bill also includes the right of due process and worker protections under the mandatory E-Verify provision. However, E-Verify and other employment verification programs remain highly flawed, problematic and costly, according to AFSC.

“We are gratified to see that the bill does begin an important conversation about future flows of workers to the U.S., by identifying significant labor and wage standard protections and opportunities to apply for permanent status and supporting family unity,” said Fogarty.

The bill strives to keep families together by restructuring a fundamentally flawed system with long waiting periods into one that provides new opportunities for people to migrate lawfully.

Still, Fogarty said there may be many who continue to live in the shadows, subject to the cruelties of a broken system including exploitation and abuse by unscrupulous employers.

The AFSC implores Congress to adopt compassionate and effective immigration reforms that are grounded in the following principles:

•           Develop humane economic policies to reduce forced migration.

•           Protect the labor rights of all workers.

•           Develop a quick path to legal permanent residency and a clear path to citizenship.

•           Respect the civil and human rights of immigrants.

•           Demilitarize the U.S.-Mexico border.

•           Make family reunification a top priority.

•           Ensure that immigrants and refugees have access to services.

AFSC’s views are laid out in its publication, A New Path,  which outlines policy priorities for humane immigration reform that protects the human rights of all people.  Fogarty said the New Path principles are derived from nine decades of work with immigrant communities, “whose voices must be heard as we seek meaningful and humane policies.”

For more on AFSC’s immigrant rights work, visit
http://afsc.org/project/immigrant-rights.