CJS Bill
1. What is the CJS bill?
CJS is short for the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations
bill. This bill authorizes the budget for the FBI, and that is why
legislation to address name check delays has been included.
2. What is the conference?
The CJS appropriations bill has already been passed in both the House
and the Senate. The conference is where differences are worked out.
See step 8 in the following guide for how a bill becomes a law (the
guide is for kids, but it is still useful for adults):
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/9-12/lawmaking/index.html
3. What is going on with the conference, and why was it not held on
Monday?
We had been hearing from staff in Congress and the Senate that the
bill would likely be on Monday. The delay could be because there are
discussions going on behind the scenes or the delay could be because
of simple scheduling conflicts.
4. When do we expect the conference?
Later this week, maybe.
5. Your asking us to say that national security requires that the FBI
should actually look at name check files. What do you mean?
While your case is delayed, it means that the FBI is not looking at
the file. If people were looking at the files, the files would be
processed in a timely fashion. If name checks are not being processed
in a timely fashion, it is a national security issue.
6. Are we calling in too much?
No. Groups made tens of thousands of calls during the debate earlier
this year on the comprehensive immigration reform bill. We are not
calling too much.
7. What phone number do I call?
Go to
www.house.gov and enter your zip code in the top left corner.
After you enter your full zip code, the web site will identify your
Congressman (if you do not know your full zip code, you can look it up
at
www.usps.com). You can then go to your Congressman's website and
look for the contact information of the nearest office.
8. How is the lobbying effort going?
We are finding broad support among both Democrats and Republicans. We
are not encountering any opposition. This is very good news.
However, there are some procedural hurdles to pass. Whether the
solution will be addressed in this bill or not is too close to call
right now.
9. What else can I do to help?
First, spread the word. Other groups and even the president of a
University have called in to support this effort. This outreach has
made a tremendous difference. Anybody you know could be a potential
person to call in and to support you -- your boss, the people at your
church, etc.
Second, help out with the cost of the lobbying effort. There is
intense lobbying going on in Washington, DC, beyond what would be
logistically possible for any of us on a volunteer basis. Both
American Families United and Legal Immigrant Association are funding
the lobbying effort. Both groups are 100% volunteer, and all
donations have come from people directly affected (and people we
know personally). To donate:
http://americanfamiliesunited.org/donate
http://legalimmigrant.org
