From today's disscussions, 3 people had bias for McCain-Kennedy, 1 (Sen. Cornyn) supported his own bill, remaining 3 expressed the need for reforms but were non-commital in showing support for any particular bill.
1. Douglas Massey
I believe the McCain-Kennedy immigration legislation moves us substantially in this direction and for this reason I support it as a scientist and member of the National Academy of Sciences,
2. Frank Sharry
..pros\cons of bills discussed prior...
Nevertheless, the authors have rightly steered clear of an “enforcement only” or “enforcement first” approach and have developed a number of ideas worthy of consideration and inclusion in a Senate Judiciary Committee bill. It is my hope and recommendation that this Committee, led by its Chairman, will start with the McCain-Kennedy template and include the best of the proposals before it in a way that builds momentum and support in the full Senate for workable comprehensive reform.
3. Patrick Leahy
In May, Senators McCain and Kennedy introduced their bill, S.1033, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act. I have said many times that I believe the McCain-Kennedy bill is the appropriate starting point for the Judiciary Committee to consider immigration reform. This bill recognizes that much of the nation’s economy depends on immigrant labor, and that some of those immigrants do not have legal status.
4. Sen. Cornyn
I believe that the bill that Senator Kyl and I have introduced strikes the appropriate balance
Further agenda for Oct 20th from
www.immigration-law.com
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AILA has reported that the Senate Judiciary Committe is markedup a very important legislative bill on October 20, 2005, coming Thursday, to discuss the Budget Reconciliation and Immigration proposal that can give some relief to the current H-1B blackout and EB immigrant visa number retrogression. According to the AILA, the proposal includes the following:
* Recapture of 300,000 unused H-1B numbers
* Recpature of 90,000 unused EB immigrant visa numbers
* Exempting spouses and minor children of EB principal aliens from the annual EB quota limit
* Permit filing of I-485 even during the visa number retrogression.
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I just hope they don't delete\scale down the "legal employment part\ immigrant visa number " section of the bills before accepting it (similar to the way they did for the recapture of 100 000 visas which they marked it only towards Schedule A folks).