In April, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) to address immigration reform. While the bill provides a road to citizenship for the 11 million individuals currently without status, it denies access to affordable health care and family economic supports to individuals who pass all the requirements for lawful status. As a result, these aspiring citizens must wait between 5 – 15 years before they can see a doctor or ensure their families are not hungry. These restrictions are harmful and costly in the short- and long-term as they deny aspiring citizens the opportunity to be healthy and fully integrate in their communities. Not only do these restrictions lack common sense, they are out of touch with the majority of Americans who support access to health care and economic supports for those on the road to citizenship – without any waiting periods.
We need your help to tell the Senate to SUPPORT access to health care and family economic supports for all, and OPPOSE further restrictions on aspiring citizens and their families.
Take Action today and email members of the Senate Judiciary Committee
Title of Email: Vote for the Health of New Americans!
Dear Senator,
The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) bill provides a road to citizenship for the 11 million individuals currently without status, but shortsightedly denies access to affordable health care and family economic supports to individuals who pass all the requirements for lawful status. Despite having lawful status, S.744 requires aspiring citizens to wait a minimum of 5-10 years before they can purchase affordable coverage or keep their family from being hungry. Most will be excluded from federal public benefits for 15 years or longer. This is poor public health and fiscal policy.
As a member of the committee, we urge you to SUPPORT/Vote YAY on the following amendments to ensure S. 744 provides aspiring citizens the rights and responsibilities of citizenship so that they can fully participate in society:
Support
- Sen. Hirono Amendment 12
- Sen. Hirono Amendment 16
- Sen. Hirono Amendment 17
- Sen. Leahy Amendment 8
We urge you to OPPOSE/Vote Nay on the following amendments that further restrict affordable health, nutrition, and resources, or create unreasonable barriers to earning lawful status:
Oppose
- Sen. Cruz Amendment 2
- Sen. Flake Amendment 4
- Sen. Grassley Amendment 16
- Sen. Hatch Amendment 5
- Sen. Hatch Amendment 21
- Sen. Hatch Amendment 22
- Sen. Hatch Amendment 23
- Sen. Hatch Amendment 24
- Sen. Lee Amendment 6
- Sen. Lee Amendment 10
- Sen. Lee Amendment 11
- Sen. Lee Amendment 13
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 10
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 17
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 18
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 19
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 25
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 26
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 27
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 28
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 29
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 30
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 31
- Sen. Sessions Amendment 43
Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
Send the message to Senate Judiciary members at the following email addresses:
Senator Richard Blumenthal
Senator Chris Coons
Senator John Cornyn
Senator Ted Cruz
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Jeff Flake
Senator Al Franken
Senator Lindsey Graham
Senator Chuck Grassley
Senator Orrin Hatch
Senator Mazie Hirono
Senator Amy Klobuchar
Senator Patrick Leahy
Senator Mike Lee
Senator Charles Schumer
Senator Jeff Sessions
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
If the senator’s email program requires you to select a policy issue that your message relates to, select “Immigration” or “Judiciary”.