Category: Members Of Congress - PACG - Progressive Action for the Common Good

Civil Rights Legislative Visit - After Action Report

10/26/2022

Legislative Visit - After Action Report

Civil Rights Forum

Members of the Civil Rights Forum visited with staffers from Congresswoman Miller-Meeks' office regarding family based immigration. We advocated that she commit to supporting language in the FY23 Homeland Security Appropriations bills that recapture Visas and end Green Card waste, and that she consider co-sponsoring H.R. 7374, the Jumpstart Act. These requests deal with the large Visa backlogs that have accumulated in the recent past, which keep family members apart. Ultimately, our group would like to protect, preserve, and strengthen the family based immigration system and promote an immigration system informed by empathy and justice.

Our requests were well received and the Congresswoman's Chief of Staff from Washington happened to be at the meeting. He assured us that she was sympathetic to our requests and would discuss them with her and let us know her response. The group felt very good about the meeting and energized from participating in this type of advocacy on behalf of civil rights!

Allison Ambrose

Older Americans Town Halls - Community Event

5/1/2022

Older American Month Virtual Town Halls via Zoom
Tuesday, May 3rd at 9:30 am
Monday, May 9th at 11:00 am

Health Care Reform Forum

The Older Americans Month Virtual Town Halls with Congresswomen Lauren Underwood and Jan Schakowsky via Zoom Webinar are just days away!

The Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans (IARA) needs your help spreading the word to your friends, family, and retiree group to join us in honoring the Congresswomen with our 2022 Aliance for Retired Americans Retiree Hero Award for their flawless voting records on the issues impacting seniors and workers.

Older Americans Month Virtual Town Halls:
Congresswoman Lauren Underwood: Tuesday, May 3rd at 9:30 am
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky: Monday, May 9th at 11:00 am

Click the link to register and the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) will follow up with details on how to log-in to these virtual events!

We'll also be joined by movement leaders from the Alliance for Retired Americans, Caring Across Generations, and Citizen Action IL who will share what you can do to help advance investment in our nation's care infrastructure, push back against threats to Social Security, and mobilize to move lawmakers to take action to lower the cost of prescription drugs!

RSVP for IARA Older Americans' Month Virtual Town Halls! Click here.

For the Illinois voting record for US Congress regarding issues that are especially important to retirees and the people that care about them click here.

Julie Ross

Illinois Members of US Congress Votes in 2021 - Of Interest to Our Community

4/29/2022

How did your Illinois member of congress vote?

Alliance of Retired Americans

Online

Here’s a special report on legislation vital to American retirees. The Alliance for Retired Americans has published the Illinois Congressional Voting Record of the 117th Congress from January to December of 2021. This easy-to-read four-page document shows the voting records for the two US Senators and the 18 members of the US House of Representatives from Illinois. Ten important legislative votes are presented. Read more here or download the attached pdf.

Julie Ross

how_did_illinois_members_of__congress_vote_in_2021_.pdf
File Size:	6656 kb
File Type:	pdf

After Action Report - Civil Rights Forum Met with Bobby Schilling

2/1/2020

After Action Report - Crisis at the Border
Visit with Bobby Schilling
Monday, January 27th at 5 pm

The PACG Civil Rights Forum organized a visit with Bobby Schilling, who is running in the Republican primary for the Congressional seat of retiring Congressman, Dave Loebsack. Immigration activists from the many organizations in the Quad Cities working on immigration issues met with Mr. Schilling to deliver our message, beginning with: "Children do not belong in detention." At the PACG Blog you can read our complete "ask" and some proposed legislation.

We are trying to set up a similar meeting with Republican candidate, Mariannette Miller-Meeks. We will also visit with other candidates or elected officials in both Iowa and Illinois. Contact Alta if you want to participate.

Alta Price

The Crisis at the Southern Border: Principles and Proposed Legislation - Updated

2/1/2020

The Crisis at the Southern Border:
Principles and Proposed Legislation

Representatives from various organizations in the Quad Cities have been meeting to address immigration issues. Our organizations include Progressive Action for the Common Good (Civil Rights Forum), One Human Family (Immigration Task Force), the Quad Cities Sanctuary Coalition, the Sanctuary Project of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities, Quad Cities Interfaith (Immigration Task Force), Quad Cities Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees (QCAIR), the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the Catholic Diocese of Davenport. Many of us are concerned about the humanitarian crisis at the border. We are opposed to locking up children and separating them from their adult family members.

Principles

Although we may differ on the problems we address and our proposed solutions, we agree on the following principles regarding the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees who come across our southern border. We call upon all members of Congress and candidates for Congress to consider these principles when devising legislative approaches to fixing the humanitarian crisis at the southern border.

Children should not be locked up in detention centers.

Children should not be separated from their adult family members, or used as bait in immigration enforcement actions.

For-profit private prisons or detention centers should not be used to detain asylum seekers or refugees. Any immigrant in a detention facility should receive adequate food, water, medical care, soap, toothpaste, bedding and access to legal representation.

Asylum seekers and refugees should be protected from sexual abuse.

Alternatives to incarceration should be prioritized for families and other asylum seekers who pose no risk to the community. Bring back and expand the Family Case Management program started as a pilot program under the Obama administration.

Develop new ways to streamline processing of asylum seekers and refugees. Follow international and U.S. laws on treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, and ensure they are treated fairly and receive due process.

Provide aid to countries like Guatemala and Honduras to help them address the problems that cause their citizens to flee their homes.

Proposed legislation on the crisis at the southern border:

Immigration Court Improvement Act of 2019 - Would establish immigration judges as independent judges so that they are not under the Department of Justice, which prosecutes immigration cases. https://www.aila.org/advo-media/press-releases/2019/aila-joins-senators-in-call-for-immigration-court

Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2019 - Would require legal counsel for indigent asylum seekers, children and other vulnerable groups who cannot afford a lawyer.
https://www.aila.org/advo-media/press-releases/2019/aila-joins-senators-in-call-for-immigration-court

Other legislative approaches to help resolve the crisis at the border:

Many problems combine to create what we call the border crisis. So, there is neither one cause nor one solution. Political attacks focused on fear of the other interfere with finding solutions. Attempts to enforce a narrow vision in response to the border crisis add to the complexity of the problem and may result in long-term undesired consequences. Legislative approaches to immigration must consider U.S. labor and security needs, the vast differences in the standard of living between the U.S. and other nations, and the level of violence in those nations.

Immigration and Refugee Policies that Reflect U.S. Labor Needs
U.S. labor needs are the main reason that our nation supports a population of ten million undocumented immigrants, many of whom have been here for 20 years or more. Legislative approaches that provide a measured response to labor needs, while also protecting our security needs, would be a start for addressing the crisis at the border. Iowa needs immigrant workers to address workforce shortages. Nationally, immigrant workers are needed to address the nation’s aging population and the decline in workers paying into our Social Security and Medicare programs.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - A good place to start the movement to a sane immigration policy is Congressional establishment of a form of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA was started by the Obama Administration by executive order and ended by the Trump Administration by executive order. ICE is preparing now to deport these 700,000 young workers if the courts rule against them. DACA recipients were brought to this country as children and in the U.S. we do not punish children for the actions of their parents. And, the U.S. needs these young people in the workforce.

Farm Workforce Modernization Act - This bill, passed by the House with bi-partisan support, is significant because it is the first Congressional response to the labor needs of farmers and ranchers, including dairy and vegetable growers. It is not perfect legislation, and the American Farm Bureau wants to modify some provisions of it as it passes through the Senate; however, it reflects America’s need for workers. Meatpacking plants, which are vital to Iowa’s Ag sector and economy, continually advertise for workers with a starting salary of $16-17 per hour. Nationally, hand-planted and hand-harvested crop work pays two to three times the minimum wage. Even with such high wages, farmers and ranchers struggle to fill these difficult jobs in the absence of immigrant workers.

For further information:

National Immigration Forum: Working Paper: Addressing the Increase of Central American Migrants, updated May 2, 2019
https://immigrationforum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Border-Solutions_Revised_Final.pdf

Migration Policy Institute: Policy Solutions to Address Crisis at Border Exist, But Require Will and Staying Power to Execute, April 2019
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/news/policy-solutions-address-crisis-border-exist-require-will-staying-power

Bipartisan Policy Center: Policy Proposals to Address the Central American Migration Challenge, July 26, 2019
https://bipartisanpolicy.org/report/policy-proposals-to-address-the-central-american-migration-challenge/

Human Rights First: Testimony of Michael Breen, President and CEO, Human Rights First at the Hearing Entitled: “Kids in Cages: Inhumane Treatment at the Border” before the House of Representatives, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/sites/default/files/MB-Written-Testimony-House-Kids-In-Cages.pdf

Note: There are many other pertinent articles at Human Rights First. https://www.humanrightsfirst.org/

American Civil Liberties Union: Immigrants’ Rights and Detention
https://www.aclu.org/issues/immigrants-rights/immigrants-rights-and-detention

NPR: ACLU: Administration Is Still Separating Migrant Families Despite Court Order to Stop,
July 30, 2019
https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/746746147/aclu-administration-is-still-separating-migrant-families-despite-court-order-to-

Southern Poverty Law Center: No End in Sight, October 3, 2018
https://www.splcenter.org/20181003/no-end-sight

WOLA: Beyond the Wall: A Campaign Defending Human Rights and Migrants in the Trump Era and Migration & Border Security
https://www.wola.org/beyondthewall/
https://www.wola.org/program/migration-border-security/

Note: There are many useful resources at WOLA (Washington Office on Latin America), with up-to-date analyses of new Trump Administration policies. WOLA advocates for human rights in the Americas. https://www.wola.org/

Farm Progress: https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/farmworker-bill-clears-house-way-senate
A brief, but balanced report on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

What You Can Do Now - Call Congress About Impeachment Inquiry

10/9/2019

What You Can Do Now - Call Your Member of Congress About
the Impeachment Inquiry

A Message from the President

Considering the turmoil facing our democracy at this confusing time, we encourage all PACG members to call the offices of their Members of Congress daily to voice their opinions about the impeachment inquiry.
Tell your friends and voting-age family members to contact their representatives.

This is very simple but has enormous impact. Each call takes one or two minutes. You either speak to a staffer or leave a message. State your name, address and your message. Be brief, respectful and stay on point. It's also a good idea to thank the staffer - if you speak to one - for doing their job during this stressful time. If your Member is Congress is pursuing this situation to your satisfaction, tell them you are grateful for their diligence and hard work. If they are not, give them input.

Iowa Senators
Chuck Grassley - Davenport Office: 563-322-4331
WA DC Office: 202-224-3744

Joni Ernst - Davenport Office: 563-322-0677
WA DC Office: 202-224-3254

Illinois Senators
Dick Durbin - Rock Island: 309-786-5173
WA DC Office: 202-224-2152

Tammy Duckworth - Rock Island: 309-606-7060
WA DC Office: 202-224-2854

Your voice matters between elections - make it heard. Take 4 minutes out of your day to help make the change that you want to see. Put these numbers in your phone's Contacts and call daily. You will feel empowered.

Allison Ambrose

Green New Deal Demonstrates Real Climate Leadership

2/4/2019

Green New Deal Week - Monday, Feb 4th - Friday, Feb 8th

Friends of the Earth
Nationwide Event

From February 4th to 8th, help bring the call for Real Climate Leadership to your Congressperson’s doorstep. We will ramp up our call for a Green New Deal by calling on our Representatives to:

Halt all new fossil fuel extraction, infrastructure and subsidies, and transition power generation to 100% renewable energy by 2035 or sooner.
Rapidly decarbonize agriculture and transportation sectors and expand access to public transportation.
Ensure a Fair & Just Transition led by impacted workers and communities, including low income and communities of color, without relying on corporate schemes or market-based mechanisms.
Uphold Indigenous Rights
Pass a national jobs guarantee, creating good jobs with collective bargaining and family-sustaining wages.

Government Shutdown Is Unacceptable!

1/21/2019

Call NOW (and Daily) to ReOpen the Government

PACG Board President

Call the White House and Your U.S. Legislators TODAY! Demand that they think of all the people who are not receiving their paychecks and open the government ASAP!

White House Comment Line: 202-456-1111
U.S. Senate Switchboard: 202-224-3121
U.S. House of Representatives Switchboard: 202-224-1904

Allison Ambrose,
PACG Board President

A Message from the Health Care Reform Forum

1/14/2019

Have You Contacted Your Senators Lately About the ACA?

A month ago, we were all alarmed about a Texas judge’s ruling that the Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional. He ruled that, since the requirement for all to carry health insurance was eliminated in the 2018 tax law, the entire Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional. If upheld, his ruling would strip away quality, affordable health insurance from millions of Americans, including protection for over 133 million Americans from losing coverage for pre-existing conditions.

Fortunately that ruling was widely criticized as faulty, or even frivolous, and Attorneys General of 17 states, including Illinois AG Lisa Madigan, have challenged the ruling in court. This and other legal appeals insure that the ACA benefits will remain in effect for the foreseeable future. So for now at least, the over 8.4 million Americans who signed up for insurance in 2019 on the ACA marketplaces will continue to have the security of good health insurance.

The midterm elections changed the political dynamics in the House of Representatives, and the new membership has already begun to take actions to support the ACA and to address the issue of the rapidly increasing cost of prescription drugs. The majority in the new House has formally authorized attorneys to join those who are challenging the ruling of the Texas judge, and this past week 235 members voted to support the ACA protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

We recognize that actions by the people’s House will probably be buried in the Senate and/or be vetoed by the President, but they will send an important message to all legislators, and to the public, that quality, affordable health insurance is supported by most Americans.

Our forum will continue to monitor developments in health care and inform you of actions you can take to support positive reform proposals. In the meantime, continue to contact your legislators and urge them again to recognize the popular support for quality, affordable health care, including coverage for pre-existing conditions, and to add their voices and votes to legislation that moves toward the goal of effective, accessible, affordable health care for all Americans.

Thank you for all you have done—and keep up the good work!

Frank Samuelson,
Health Care Reform Forum
cfsam22@gmail.com

Environmental Forum's 2019 Goals

12/17/2018

News from the Environmental Forum's Last Meeting of 2018

The Environmental Forum met on Monday, December 3rd. We discussed upcoming goals for 2019, and are reviewing two primary efforts.

One involves a focus on the Iowa and Illinois legislatures. We will be meeting with state and federal representatives from both states and would like to have volunteers from specific districts to join us when we meet with congresspersons. We will listen and share our concerns about environmental issues.
Our second focus will be expanding our networking to local colleges, specifically their environmental groups, professors teaching courses in environmental science, and administrative staff who control the college's energy systems.

We encourage everyone to join us for our monthly meetings on the first Monday of each month, at 6:30 at Cobblestone Place.

Lori McCollum
lori_mccollum@sbcglobal.net