01
Feb
2013

Congressional Round-Up

Round-Up

Congress is considering a number of legislative initiatives that may be of interest to the Iranian American community.  The PAAIA Public Policy Center is pleased to provide a round-up on the status of such legislation. In general, PAAIA focuses on bills and congressional actions, which bear on three areas: civil liberties, foreign policy towards Iran, and immigration.  PAAIA recognizes it is important that Iranian Americans be informed about such legislative initiatives and the positions that their members of Congress are taking concerning these topics.

Bills & Resolutions

Immigration

S. 169: A bill to authorize additional visas for well-educated aliens to live and work in the United States.

On January 29, 2013, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced S.169. The legislation has a total of 12 co-sponsors and has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

S. 169 amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize additional visas for well-educated aliens to live and work in the United States, and for other purposes.

S.J. RES. 4: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to United States citizenship

On January 23, 2013, Senator David Vitter (R-LA) introduced S.J. RES. 4. The legislation currently has 1 co-sponsor and has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

The resolution proposes that the Constitution be amended so that those born in the U.S. are no longer automatically U.S. citizens.  Under the proposal, such persons would only be citizens if one of their parents was a citizen, an alien “lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States who resides in the United States,” or an alien actively serving in the Armed Forces, or if they themselves had become naturalized citizens.

Foreign Policy

H.R. 301:To provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia.

On January 15, 2013, Representative Frank R. Wolf (R-10th/VA) introduced H.R.301. The legislation has a total of 16 co-sponsors and has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

H.R. 301 provides for the establishment of a Special Envoy to promote religious freedom for religious minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia. The duties of the envoy would include monitoring and combating acts of incitement and intolerance directed against religious minorities, working to ensure that the economic and security needs of such minorities are met, and working with foreign governments in the Near East and South Central Asia to address laws that are religiously discriminatory. The Special Envoy would be subject to the direction of the President and the Secretary of State.

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