Advocacy Update
December 2006

Looking Ahead to the 110th Congress
By Milt Roney, LIRS Director for Legislative Affairs

Democrats gained majorities in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives on November 7. Over 60 new members with new interests will add a new outlook to debates in the 110th Congress. How will the changes impact the issues that LIRS cares about?

Refugee Protection
There is hope that the new Congress will reform the so-called “material support” bar to entry, which hinders the rescue of thousands of deserving refugees and asylum seekers. Despite waivers that lift the bar for several thousand refugees, thousands more continue to live in dangerous conditions or at risk of deportation back to persecution. Moreover, hundreds of deserving asylum seekers wait indefinitely for protection in the United States. Advocates are hopeful that the 110th Congress may fix this “bar” problem, using viable solutions such as H.R. 5918, introduced by Rep. Joseph Pitts (R-PA16) in the 109th Congress.

Comprehensive Immigration Reform
President Bush has said that he expects to find common ground on immigration reform with the incoming Congress. Strong advocacy will be needed to convince leaders of both parties and new members of Congress that now is the time for principled, comprehensive immigration reform.

Unaccompanied Children
Introduction of a bill for the protection of unaccompanied refugee and migrant children is expected early in the 110th Congress. Last December the Senate passed a version of this bill, but it never came to a vote in the House. Prospects for passage seem better in this session, but continued advocacy will be needed to convince Congress once again that “kids can’t wait.”

Appropriations
Maintaining critical funding for the most vulnerable refugee and migrant families and children will remain difficult as Congress tries to reign in spending. Expansion may be possible in some areas such as funding for the Legal Orientation Program (LOP), which provides pro-bono immigration orientation for asylum seekers and other vulnerable migrants in immigration detention. LOP is a win-win government program, enhancing both justice and efficiency for those in detention.

Lutherans
Before the election there were three Lutherans in the Senate, and 18 in the House. In the Senate there was no net change with Conrad Burns (R-MT) departing and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) arriving. In the House there was a net loss of four: Brown vacated his seat for his successful Senate run, Jim Nussle (R-IA11) vacated his for a losing bid for governor, and Martin Olaf Sabo (D-MN5) and Michael Oxley (R-OH4) both retired while Tim Walz (D-MN1) and Michelle Bachman (R-MN6) were newly elected.

In conclusion, huge progress is possible, but we will all need to work hard to make it happen. As we finish work during the lame duck session and look forward to the new year, we thank you for joining us in advocacy efforts and for bringing new hope and new life by being a voice for the voiceless.

See LIRS's November 14 Action Alert on refugee protection.

Read past Advocacy Updates.
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