Roybal-Allard RSS Articles

REP. ROYBAL-ALLARD DECRIES REPUBLICAN ATTACK ON DREAMERS

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today, lead DREAM Act sponsor and member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, decried a reckless and irresponsible amendment to the FY 2014 DHS Appropriations bill offered by Rep. Steve King (R-IA). The King amendment would prevent continued implementation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative, which has allowed hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth to live, work and study without fear of deportation. It would also prevent ICE from abiding by the Morton Memo on prosecutorial discretion, which has refocused the agency’s enforcement efforts on those who present a threat to public safety or national security.

“Members of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee worked for months to craft a fair, bipartisan bill that members on both sides of the aisle could support,” said Rep. Roybal-Allard. “Unfortunately, this good faith effort was destroyed by the deeply irresponsible King Amendment. By rolling back the Administration’s prosecutorial discretion policies, this heartless measure represents a brazen attack on the Dreamers and their families.

I am saddened and frustrated by the Republican Majority’s decision to once again use a homeland security spending bill as a platform for anti-immigrant posturing. Apparently, they are still more interested in political point-scoring than in working constructively to fix our broken immigration system.”

Following passage of the King Amendment, Appropriations Committee Democrats, who had previously supported passage of the FY 2014 Homeland Security Appropriations bill, were compelled to vote against it. This marks the second year in a row that anti-immigrant amendments have undermined a bipartisan comprise on homeland security spending.

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CONGRESSWOMAN LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD INTRODUCES MOMS BILL FOR BETTER MATERNAL CARE

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard introduced the Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services (MOMS) for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 2286) which will create a national focus on maternity services, expand federal research on best maternity practices, and support the education of a more culturally diverse, interdisciplinary maternity care workforce.

“While the United States spends significantly more on childbirth than any other industrialized country, it continues to rank far behind in healthy childbirth results for both mothers and babies,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. “The MOMS Act promotes evidence-based maternity care to ensure that moms and babies in the U.S. are getting the best services for the lowest cost,” Roybal-Allard added.

Each year over 4,000,000 women give birth in this country. Hospitalization related to pregnancy and childbirth costs approximately $86 billion each year, the highest hospitalization costs in any area of health care. The high number of procedures during most maternity hospital stays has helped to make “mother’s pregnancy and delivery” our most costly Medicaid expenditure. Yet despite our monumental investment in maternity care, childbirth continues to carry significant risks for mothers and babies, with considerable disparities in communities of color.

To highlight the importance of improving maternity care in the United States, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard toured the Community of Hope Family Health and Birth Center in Washington, DC. During the tour, the Congresswoman discussed the birth center model and its proven impact on healthy childbirth results and lowered maternity care costs with the center’s founder, MacArthur Genius Award Winner, Dr. Ruth Lubic.

Photo: Congresswoman Roybal-Allard, speaks with Dr. Ruth Lubic, founder of the Community of Hope Family Health and Birth Center, and Dr. Linda Randolph, President and CEO.

REP. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD MARKS THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HERNANDEZ ROJAS DEATH

Wed, 29 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard marked the three year anniversary of the death of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas, a longtime U.S. resident and father of five who was killed in June 2010 at a border crossing near San Diego after being struck repeatedly with a baton and tazed five times by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) personnel. While CBP insisted that Hernandez-Rojas was resisting, cell phone footage and eye-witness testimony gathered by PBS indicates that he was already handcuffed and lying on the ground when agents accosted him. Rep. Roybal-Allard said the case should serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of strengthening oversight of CBP as Congress considers a comprehensive overhaul of our nation’s immigration laws.

“Immigration reform should reflect our most basic American values, including our shared belief in justice and accountability,” said Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), who co-authored a letter with 15 other members of Congress that prompted an investigation of CBP by the Office of Inspector General. “Along with fixing our broken immigration system, this is an opportunity to create a better border and a more professional Border Patrol. Anastasio’s death was a terrible tragedy but with better training, tougher oversight and stronger standards, we can help to prevent future cases of abuse and death at the hands of federal border enforcement personnel.”

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard has repeatedly called for justice in the death of Anastasio Hernandez Rojas and has met personally with his parents as well as the families of other victims of CBP brutality.

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REP. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD TO OBAMA ADMINISTRATION: PROTECT CALIFORNIA APPAREL MANUFACTURERS; FIGHT UNFAIR EUROPEAN UNION DUTIES

Tue, 28 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard led three of her colleagues from Los Angeles in sending a letter to the Acting U.S. Trade Representative, urging her to take action in response to the imposition of a steep increase in European Union tariffs on American-made women’s jeans. These unfair duties will severely impact premium denim brands that employ thousands of California workers. The letter strongly encourages the Administration to make this issue a priority in upcoming trade negotiations with the EU.

“Consumers around the world associate blue jeans with the United States,” said Rep. Roybal-Allard. “Unfortunately, if the EU’s excessive duties remain in place, it’s likely that in the future, fewer denim brands will carry the label ‘Made in America.’ That’s why fair market access for American apparel manufacturers should be a priority when trade talks begin with the European Union. I call on the Administration to protect California manufacturing jobs by fighting for a level playing field for our state’s iconic denim brands at these negotiations.”

The full text of the letter to Acting U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador Miriam Sapiro is below:

Ambassador Miriam Sapiro
Acting United States Trade Representative
Office of the United States Trade Representative
600 17th Street NW
Washington, DC 20508

Dear Ambassador Sapiro:

We appreciate and strongly support the Administration’s efforts to bolster American manufacturing and boost American exports to markets around the world. Recognizing your interest in protecting and growing this critical sector of our economy, we write to express our serious concerns regarding the European Union’s (EU) recent decision to impose new tariffs on women’s jeans. These increased duties will unfairly disadvantage American denim makers, including popular denim brands based in California, and could lead to the loss of valuable manufacturing jobs. For that reason, we respectfully request that you work to end these tariffs and to ensure American denim manufacturers fair access to the European market in all future trade negotiations with the EU.

The first blue jeans were made in California and apparel manufacturing plays an important role in our state’s economy. In recent years, Californian premium denim brands have grown in popularity, both domestically and internationally, and have successfully expanded to new markets in Europe and Asia. Collectively, these brands support thousands of jobs and hundreds of small businesses from sewing contractors to cutting services to dye and wash facilities to textile suppliers. California denim producers have demonstrated that American apparel manufacturers, using American-made materials, can thrive in the intensely competitive global marketplace.

Unfortunately, this California success story has been imperiled by the imposition of new EU tariffs on American women’s jeans. On May 1^st, the duties assessed by the EU on this category of products increased dramatically, jumping from 12 to 38 percent. The resulting price increase will push these jeans out of the reach of many European consumers, hurting American denim producers and putting California manufacturing jobs at risk. We fear that unless the new EU duties are rescinded, these businesses may be forced to consider relocating overseas. For these reasons, we strongly encourage you to seek a reduction in these duties and request that you make fair market access for American-made denim and other apparel products a priority in your upcoming trade negotiations with the EU.

We share President Obama’s belief that given a level playing field, American businesses and workers can outcompete anyone. Unfortunately, the EU’s actions have denied American denim makers a fair opportunity to succeed in the European market. Jeans are a quintessentially American product and we strongly believe they should continue be made here in America. We look forward to working with you to address the competitive barriers our denim producers face and to advance our shared goal of revitalizing American manufacturing.

Sincerely,

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard

Rep. Xavier Becerra

Rep. Linda Sanchez

Rep. Grace Napolitano

cc: Irving A. Williamson, Chairman, U.S. International Trade Commission

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REP. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD’S CHILD TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION ACT (CTVPA) APPROVED BY SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard expressed her gratitude to Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii for offering the congresswoman’s bill, the Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act (CTVPA), as an amendment to S. 744, the Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform legislation. The measure was approved by voice vote.

The CTVPA will place child welfare professionals at Customs and Border Patrol stations to provide basic humanitarian assistance to unaccompanied children in federal custody. These trained experts will screen children to identify victims of persecution and trafficking and help to ensure that they are treated appropriately.

“Today, thanks to Senator Hirono’s exceptional leadership, the Senate Judiciary Committee took a critical step to help protect some of the youngest and most vulnerable victims of our broken immigration system,” said Rep. Roybal-Allard. “By accepting legislation I offered in the House, the Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the Committee sent a strong signal that all children, regardless of their immigration status, deserve to be treated with care and compassion. I appreciate Senator Hirono efforts and look forward to working with her to expand protections for children and families as the immigration debate continues to unfold.”

The CTVPA responds to numerous documented cases of children apprehended alone along our southern border suffering egregious abuses at the hands of federal immigration officials.

Rep. Roybal-Allard first introduced The Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act as part of The Immigration Oversight and Protection Act in 2008. CTVPA is part of the congresswoman’s Immigration Fairness Agenda.

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REP. ROYBAL-ALLARD BLASTS REPUBLICANS ON 37th REPEAL OF OBAMACARE

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today, House Republican leadership called its 37th vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as “Obamacare.” After voting against the repeal for the 37th time, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard released the following statement:

The House Republican leadership is stuck on repeat. Despite the Supreme Court’s upholding of the law’s constitutionality, the reelection of President Obama, and the Speaker himself declaring Obamacare the, “law of the land,” Republicans forced yet another vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. This is a blatant waste of both time and taxpayer money.

We need to be talking about creating jobs, getting people back to work and our economy back on track. This is not the time for messaging games, it’s time for us to step up and do the work the American people sent us to Congress to do.

The Affordable Care Act is already helping Americans. Children with pre-existing conditions can no longer be denied health insurance, seniors formerly in the donut hole are now saving on prescription drugs, young adults can now stay on their family insurance until 26, and no one can have their insurance taken away from them if they get “too sick.”

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REP. ROYBAL-ALLARD: FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL POLICE UNDERMINE PUBLIC SAFETY, SHOULD BE SUSPENDED

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard reacted to the deeply troubling findings of a new survey of Latino attitudes towards law enforcement in Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Phoenix. In a poll conducted by Lake Research Partners, 44% of respondents said they would now be unlikely to contact police if they were victims of a crime because of concerns about officers questioning their immigration status or the status of people they know. The figure rises to 70% among those Latinos who are undocumented. Congresswoman Roybal-Allard said the results highlight the negative impact on public safety of the 287(g) and Secure Communities immigration enforcement programs.

“The results of this scientific survey clearly show that local police shouldn’t be in the business of enforcing our immigration laws,” said Rep. Roybal-Allard. “As the Los Angeles Police Department has said repeatedly, when immigrant and minority communities fear the cops who patrol their streets, fewer witnesses come forward and more victims choose to suffer in silence. That makes all of us less safe. We should end federal partnerships with local law enforcement, like the deeply flawed 287(g) and Secure Communities programs, while Congress works to overhaul our broken immigration system.”

In December, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard led the Congressional Hispanic, Black, Asian American and Progressive Caucuses in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security urging Secretary Janet Napolitano to end the 287(g) program.

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REP. ROYBAL-ALLARD HAILS INTRODUCTION OF SENATE IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION: “A GOOD FIRST STEP”

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard released the following statement regarding the introduction of S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act:

The legislation being introduced in the Senate is a good first step toward comprehensive immigration reform. I am thrilled to see that this bill includes a strong DREAM Act provision, which would allow those who were brought to the U.S. as children to be eligible for citizenship after five years. I have been fighting for DREAMers for many years and today marks a great step forward for these young people.

I am also encouraged to see part of the Help Separated Families Act included in the bill. This legislation allows for children with parents in detention or deportation proceedings to be placed with eligible relatives regardless of their documentation, instead of unnecessarily being placed in the foster care system. I introduced the Help Separated Families Act to protect parental rights, and I am very glad to see this important issue included in the Senate bill.

As we move forward with comprehensive immigration reform, I will continue to advocate for families and our youngest immigrants, and I am pleased that we have taken an important first step.

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REP. ROYBAL-ALLARD SPEAKS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR ABOUT EQUAL PAY DAY

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Last night, Congresswoman Roybal-Allard spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in recognition of Equal Pay Day:

36 Members of Congress to Congressional Leadership: Immigration Reform Must Include Strong Civil Rights and Due Process Protections

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Representatives John Lewis, Judy Chu, Joe Garcia and Lucille Roybal-Allard led 32 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the leadership of the House and Senate urging them to ensure that legislation to reform our broken immigration system includes strong civil rights and due process protections. Specifically, the letter states that any immigration reform bill considered by Congress should require that those detained by our immigration authorities are allowed a fair hearing before a judge and access to counsel. In addition, the letter asserts that federal immigration authorities should explicitly reject racial, religious and ethnic profiling and operate with greater transparency and accountability.

“America is a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants,” said Rep. Chu (CA-27). “Our founding principles commit us to the ideal that all people – regardless of their background – are created equal and deserve the same protection under our laws. It is vital that any immigration reform package recognize that fact by including strong civil rights and due process protections.”

“Immigration reform is one of the great civil rights causes of our time,” said Rep. Roybal-Allard (CA-40). “Far too many detained immigrants, including children and the mentally disabled, continue to face the devastating prospect of deportation without the assistance of counsel. Moreover, according to data obtained by Syracuse University, over the past four years our immigration authorities have mistakenly issued more than 800 orders to lock up U.S. citizens, blatantly violating their constitutional rights. Now is the time for real reform that ends these abuses and finally brings our broken immigration system into line with our most basic American values.”

Please see the text of the letter below:

The Honorable Harry Reid The Honorable John Boehner
Majority Leader Speaker of the House
United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives
S-221 The Capitol H-232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Republican Leader Democratic Leader
United States Senate U.S. House of Representatives
S-230 The Capitol H-204 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515

Dear House and Senate Leaders,

As the 113th Congress begins, the need to enact comprehensive immigration reform has never been more pressing. As part of this discussion, we believe the bill must protect the civil rights and civil liberties of all people as promised in our Constitution. America is a nation of values, founded on the idea that all people are created equal under - the law, no matter what they look like or where they came from. Our immigration laws should reflect our commitment to these American values. They should be grounded in civil and human rights and ensure due process, equal treatment, and fairness.

Current immigration enforcement practices tear families apart and hurt people who know America as their only home. More than one in every five individuals deported are parents of U.S. citizens. Thousands, including those seeking asylum, are unnecessarily detained at great expense to taxpayers even though they pose no threat to public safety. Our laws mandate detention or deportation for many people, denying them access to a hearing before a judge, in a system that does not guarantee legal counsel for those who cannot afford it. Immigration enforcement measures frequently target minority and immigrant communities through impermissible racial, religious and ethnic profiling that instills fear and distrust of law enforcement and makes communities less safe. Our system is not fair. It is unnecessarily punitive.

Today, America is at a crossroads. The question we face is not only how much enforcement we need, but how we will ensure that enforcement is consistent with our nation’s values. We renew our commitment to fight for principled immigration reform that does the following:

1. Provides an enforcement process that matches our values. To the greatest extent possible, we should strive for a process that includes a fair hearing before a judge, a bond hearing, federal court review, and access to counsel.

2. Provides for the humane treatment of everyone detained by immigration authorities.

3. Reduces the impact of enforcement on children and families.

4. Clarifies that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility and that it should be administered uniformly across the country.

5. Explicitly rejects discrimination and racial, religious and ethnic profiling.

6. Ensures that all agencies charged with enforcement operate with accountability and transparency.

In this immigration reform effort, we must not lose sight of the imperative to create an immigration system that is consistent with our nation’s values, including the protection of civil and human rights, and our Constitution.

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