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Landmark immigration bill passes key Senate hurdle

Agence France-PresseMay 21, 2013 21:30
The sweeping overhaul of the US immigration system took a major step towards viability Tuesday when the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 to approve a landmark bill offering a path to citizenship for millions. "It passes!" committee chairman Senator Patrick Leahy exalted moments after the vote, which followed days of marathon hearings and meetings to consider more than 200 amendments to the bill.

Senate panel OKs changes sought by tech firms in immigration bill

May 21, 2013 21:02
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel voted on Tuesday to make it easier for U.S. companies to hire foreign workers as part of a broad immigration bill being debated in Congress. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted for the amendment, which would loosen requirements that employers recruit Americans ahead of foreigners for high-tech jobs.

Immigration bill gets Senate boost; House effort teetering

May 21, 2013 20:32
By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Supporters of U.S. immigration reform are hoping that the smooth and drama-free passage of their legislation through a Senate committee - a departure from almost everything that has happened in Congress over the past four years - will boost the likelihood of the bill winning full Senate approval.

IRS official will refuse to answer questions at U.S. House hearing

May 21, 2013 19:00
By Kim Dixon WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lois Lerner, an Internal Revenue Service official who revealed that the agency was giving extra scrutiny to conservative groups, will assert her constitutional right not to answer questions from a congressional committee on Wednesday, her lawyer said in a letter obtained by Reuters.

Senators reach deal to ease high tech rules in U.S. immigration bill

May 21, 2013 12:46
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senators reached a tentative deal with tech companies to ease restrictions on hiring foreigners for high-skilled jobs in the Senate's sweeping immigration bill, sources familiar with the talks said on Tuesday. For about a week, senators on the panel have been in negotiations with each other and with the AFL-CIO union and tech company officials over limits imposed for hiring high-tech workers from abroad.

US Senate opens debate on immigration reform

Agence France-PresseMay 11, 2013 16:46
A US Senate committee opened debate Thursday on an immigration reform bill backed by President Barack Obama, which would lead to legal status for millions of people in the country without papers. The debate could last weeks before moving to a second stage on the Senate floor, where Democrats hold a slender majority. The Republican-controlled House of Representatives would then take up the legislation, with a final vote expected no earlier than the summer.

US senators clash over tying immigration to Boston attack

Agence France-PresseApril 22, 2013 14:34
US senators said Monday that fixing the immigration system would help prevent future terror attacks, and warned it would be "cruel" to exploit the Boston bombings as a reason for delaying reform efforts. Lawmakers in a Judiciary Committee hearing clashed over linking the attack to stronger immigration enforcement, as the Senate considers a landmark bipartisan immigration plan that puts 11 million undocumented migrants on a path to US citizenship

Boston bombings edge into U.S. immigration debate in Congress

April 19, 2013 18:15
By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An already contentious immigration bill became the lightning rod for more controversy on Friday when a senior Republican U.S. senator linked the measure to the Boston Marathon bombings and the hunt for the two ethnic Chechen suspects. "Given the events of this week, it is important for us to understand the gaps and loopholes in our immigration system," Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa said.

Boston bombing edges into U.S. immigration debate in Congress

April 19, 2013 15:31
By Richard Cowan WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An already contentious immigration bill became the lightning rod for more controversy on Friday when a senior Republican U.S. senator linked the measure to the hunt in Massachusetts for a suspected Boston Marathon bomber. "Given the events of this week, it is important for us to understand the gaps and loopholes in our immigration system," Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa said.

Tears and rage as victims watch US gun bill die

Agence France-PresseApril 17, 2013 21:15
Three startling words rang out in the US Senate after lawmakers on Wednesday rejected an amendment aimed at expanding background checks for gun sales: "Shame on you!" Patricia Maisch, a survivor of the 2011 Tucson shooting that killed six people and severely wounded a US lawmaker, was ejected from the chamber, but not before putting into words the emotions felt by many in the Capitol after senators defeated the most ambitious gun safety measure in nearly 20 years.
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