The Senate passed a strong comprehensive immigration reform bill. Immigration reform will strengthen our economy, keep families together, and offer a clear road map to citizenship for nearly 11 million tax-paying, aspiring Americans. As an American citizen, and the child of a parent who was an immigrant, I want legislators to stand up on the right side of history, and side with the majority of Americans that we need comprehensive immigration reform now.

Comprehensive immigration reform is dying a slow death in Congress because House Speaker Boehner—who has the power to demand an up-or-down vote on the reform bill—refuses to get out of the way. But there is a simple way that Democrats can bypass Boehner and save immigration reform. They can introduce the Senate bill, which passed with broad bipartisan support, then use a discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote in the House of Representatives. A discharge petition is the most viable option to pass comprehensive immigration reform this fall. It only takes 218 votes to file a discharge petition—that's every Democrat in Congress and 17 Republicans. Support for the discharge petition is growing in the media and among members of Congress. Reform is good for the economy, will ensure that nearly 11 million people have a clear roadmap to citizenship, and will keep families together.

Most Americans are immigrants or descendants of immigrants. We or our ancestors arrived to fashion their dreams on this land. Many of us still work tirelessly so that our children and grandchildren may have a better life. The same is true of all immigrants who have come to our country from any nation and under any circumstance. They are willing to work hard and provide for their families in the best way they can. Some have difficulty with a new language; most of us would were we to be transplanted to another country. In short, their dreams are now what our dreams were. For many years our country’s immigration system has been slowed by inefficiency which throws up barriers to new immigrants who want to become citizens. Many are taken advantage of by unscrupulous employers who threaten them and pay them miserly wages. They play on the fact that many of these immigrants have entered the country without proper documentation and are vulnerable, since they can't complain. We all want safe and secure borders. This does mean that we should remain vigilant and create obstacles to undocumented entry into this country. It does not mean that we should create a hyper-militarized zone along our southern border and through the various border communities not unlike what we saw in Iraq during the conflict there. Earlier this year, the Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill that is a good first step and a framework for a lasting immigration reform bill. It also includes an onerous amendment, the Corker-Hoeven Amendment, that would cost us about $47 billion over the next ten years to include doubling the number of Border Patrol Agents and also result in the militarization of many of the communities along the U.S. side of the border with Mexico. This is money wasted and money that many believe will eventually find its way into the pockets of various politicians' friends and companies. The House of Representatives "led" by John Boehner, is dragging its feet on any sensible reform legislation. We need to hold his/their feet to the fire when they return from their August Recess. Besides fixing the system so that those who already have been waiting in line for citizenship for far too long have an expedited access through the process, Congress needs to develop a system where those here already who are undocumented, have a reasonable pathway to obtain their own citizenship while avoiding the present practices of breaking apart families.. If the Republicans refuse to bring the Senate bill to the floor for a vote and refuse to introduce their own bill, Democrats can use a tactic called a discharge petition to attempt to move the Senate bill to the House floor for a vote. We urge you to join us in calling on Representative Lloyd Doggett from CD-35 in Texas to champion this move toward a discharge petition.

Comprehensive immigration reform is being stalled by Speaker Boehner. Let's bypass Boehner by turning up the heat on members of Congress and demanding that they introduce the Senate bill and support a discharge petition. . Here's how it works: 1. Any member of Congress can introduce the bipartisan Senate immigration bill into the House. 2. We only need 218 members of Congress to sign the discharge petition - every Democrat and 17 Republicans. 3. Then, whether or not Speaker Boehner likes it, the bill automatically moves to an up-or-down vote.

The next few days are critical to reform our broken immigration system, when Congress returns to work in September. To do this, we need to keep pressure on House Republicans to give us a vote on immigration reform with a path to citizenship. Here In GA 14th District, immigrants are an essential part of the global carpet/floor manufacturing economy and other industries, but with no option to fully participate in this democracy, and no freedom to even drive to perform the most basic daily activities. Right now, if House leaders scheduled a vote on reform with a new roadmap to citizenship, a bipartisan majority of members in the House would vote for it. Part of democracy is letting the majority will express itself. It’s up to House Republican leaders – Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Cantor, and Majority Whip McCarthy – to do just that. • The time is now for a real solution: reform with citizenship. We want nothing less than an inclusive path to initial immigration status and an achievable path to eventual citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants in America. • We have an historic opportunity to get it done and get it right. This is the best chance we’ve had in a generation to pass common-sense immigration reform. It’s good policy: it combines elements in a way that will modernize our immigration system so it’s safe, legal, orderly, and humane.

Our Immigration System is broken and must be fixed. The Senate has passed Comprehensive Immigration Reform Legislation that "Provides a Pathway to Citizenship that Keeps Families Together". Now it is up to members of the House to act in the same moral spirit.

We need your immediate help. During the August congressional recess, lasting from August 2 to September 3, we are escalating the pressure to urge Republican U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House Majority Whip, to stand up for real immigration reform. We need McCarthy to oppose all piece meal immigration bills that do not feature a path to citizenship, including the bill by GOP House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, H.R. 1773. McCarthy needs to vote for commonsense immigration reform that includes a roadmap to citizenship. As Majority Whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy is a top Republican leader in Congress. His leadership gives him the ability to influence other Members of Congress. Sign the petition today telling him that his responsibility to his district and this nation is to vote for a real solution – comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship. The House Judiciary Committee has passed four piece meal bills. One of those measures includes H.R. 1773, sponsored by Rep. Goodlatte. Goodlatte’s bill does not include a new immigration process. His bill is a farm worker guest worker bill that bears much closer resemblance to the infamous 1942-1964 bracero guest worker program than it does to the immigration changes needed in the 21st Century. House members cannot take a vote on proposals that do not fix our broken immigration system. We urge Rep. McCarthy to use his leadership to defeat the Goodlatte bill and give us a vote on citizenship. All through the August recess we will continue holding actions throughout California until House GOP lawmakers and leaders like Rep McCarthy take a stand on immigration reform with a path to citizenship. Take action today. Sign the petition to urge McCarthy on a vote for citizenship. We need to go forward, not backward.

Recently, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) publicly condemned Rep. Steve King (R-IA) after he despicably claimed that DREAMers have "calves the size of cantaloupes because they're hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert." "What he said does not reflect the values of the American people or the Republican Party," Speaker Boehner said during a press conference. Yet only one month earlier, he allowed Rep. King a vote on his amendment to defund the deferred action program and leave DREAMers vulnerable to deportation. In fact, it's the only immigration-related measure to receive a vote in the House this year. Speaker John Boehner seems to be speaking out of both sides of his mouth. If he can give Rep. Steve King a vote on his hateful amendment to deport DREAMers, why can't he give us a vote on a path to citizenship? We need to tell Speaker Boehner that we deserve a vote on the path to citizenship in the House. While condemning Rep. King's comments was the right thing do to, it's simply not enough. We need a vote too. The House has gone on recess for a month and we know that we have the House members necessary to win a vote on a path to citizenship. Yet Speaker Boehner won't bring it to the floor, instead allowing Rep. King to sit in the driver's seat at the expense of millions of immigrants. It's time for real action. Speaker Boehner has stated in the past that "we need immigration reform.” But voting to deport DREAMers isn't the way to get there. Tell Speaker Boehner to give us our vote on the path to citizenship in the House now.

I know illegals who are hard working & have families. They have been here for 13 years with 3 children, 1 in college who just received her right to a social security card through Pres. Obama's program, and 2 who where born here & are citizens. Their parents need a path to legal citizenship, as do so many other families in this same situation .

With unemployment still around 7.6% Americans need to work America's jobs. I've recently been working in the oil fields of North Dakota, living in a man camp and surrounded by foreigners working in skilled trades. In Tioga North Dakota on the south end of town is a gasification plant being built by kiewit and MMR construction. This job site employs about 1,500 craftsmen of which 80% are foreign, most likely legally in the United States on work visas. I have recently been in touch with the department of homeland security to seek verification of their legal status in this country. The response I got from I.C.E. was without proof of illegal activity they would be unwilling to conduct an investigation. I'm here to tell the federal government put Americans to work! These migrant workers aren't doing the work we won't do, they are taking a high paying position from an American. Help me convince congress and Obama that Americans should hold American jobs!

Danielle Pineault-Dunkin is my Canadian-citizen-sister-in-law who is in the process of receiving her paperwork to become a US citizen now that she has married my US.Veteran-NW Native-Brother, Joshua Dunkin. Joshua and Danielle have been building a long-lasting relationship for the last several years long-distance. She has a Passport + VISA to enter into the United States. Recently, Washington State Boarder Control has DENIED her entrance into the United States because THEY have determined she is planning on "moving" here, not merely coming for a visit. Danielle's US Citizen-Mother lives in Portland Oregon and is ailing of a serious illness. Danielle wants to come and visit her sick mother, and her new husband, BUT WASHINGTON STATE BORDER CONTROL have denied her entrance. What is obvious is Danielle Pineault-Dunkin and her toddler-son ARE planning to move here to the Northwest as United States citizens 'the moment' her paperwork from her recent marriage comes through, as she plans to live with her new husband in Portland, Oregon area. Danielle was told this process takes approximately 6 months. But UNTIL THE PAPERWORK COMES THROUGH, Danielle Pineault-Dunkin and her toddler-son are of NO THREAT to our state or country, and wish to VISIT their new husband|father, extended family, friends + ailing biological mother. Danielle's mother is diagnosed with a serious disease and would love to spend time with Danielle and grandson sooner rather than later. Friends, Local tax-paying citizens and Family are ready to celebrate the new union between Army Veteran + NW Native Joshua Dunkin and Danielle Pineault-Dunkin. We all want to see Danielle Pineault-Dunkin and her toddler son GRANTED ACCESS TO VISIT into the country immediately.

Because the comprehensive immigration reforms bill is designed to eliminate the DV lottery