Washington D.C. >> Lake County congressmen have announced new legislation for the House of Representatives this week.
Drought relief
On Tuesday U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, Davis, Yuba City) announced his intention to introduce legislation that would address California’s prolonged drought. The bill, which mirrors legislation introduced by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, would authorize $1.3 billion for long-term water solutions and short-term drought relief, all without violating California’s landmark environmental laws.
“The California drought legislation that has passed the House of Representatives so far would cause irreparable damage to the ecology of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, all without creating the long-term storage and infrastructure California needs to ensure the reliability of our water supply,” Garamendi said. “I am introducing this legislation because the house has not done its job to find a solution that treats all stakeholders fairly while respecting our environmental laws. Sen. Feinstein’s legislation does exactly that. It is the result of a lengthy process of discussions, negotiations and compromise, and California cannot afford to wait.
“I do not believe it is enough to simply hope that Congress won’t make the problem worse. California needs help, and we need to restart the conversation in Washington about finding a solution that works for everyone.”
Feinstein and Garamendi had been part of a bicameral group of legislators working to negotiate a bipartisan solution to California’s water infrastructure issues. Garamendi is currently recruiting additional co-sponsors for the legislation.
Immigration reform
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) on Wednesday introduced the Support and Defend Our Military Personnel and Their Families Act (H.R. 4600) with Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Florida). This bipartisan legislation will remove barriers to naturalization for non-citizen service members, veterans and their families.
“The more than 20,000 brave, non-citizen men and women serving in our Armed Forces shouldn’t have to worry about their immigration status, or that of their family members,” Thompson said. “Fixing our country’s broken immigration system is a priority. And by making sure our system does not unduly burden non-citizen service members, veterans and their families, this legislation is an important first step.”
The Support and Defend Our Military Personnel and Their Families Act helps veterans who have served honorably become U.S. citizens, facilitates the reunification of lawful permanent residents serving in active duty with nuclear family members and works to preserve family unity of military personnel.
Ros-Lehtinen stated, “I’m proud to join Mike, once again, in introducing the Support and Defend Our Military Personnel and Their Families Act. Those who honorably serve our nation should not have to worry about their immigration status or that of their families after having sacrificed so much for our country. Our servicemembers should be allowed the opportunity to fully participate in our great democracy, which they work to defend. Allowing them to expedite their citizenship and their families to apply for lawful residency is the least we can do to repay their courage.”
While current law does allow for expedited naturalization of non-citizens serving, or who have served, in the Armed Forces, this legislation would extend naturalization eligibility to certain soldiers not covered under existing law, such as soldiers who served in the armed conflicts in Kosovo and Bosnia in the 1990s. Veterans would also have one year, instead of six months, to apply for naturalization after being honorably discharged.
The Support and Defend Our Military Personnel and Their Families Act expedites the petitions of nuclear family members, spouses and children, of non-citizen military personnel by exempting their lawful permanent resident petitions from the numerical caps that limit the number of petitions granted each year. The legislation would also allow immediate family members of a U.S. citizen soldier who is serving, or who has served honorably, to apply for lawful permanent residence. The bill helps protect active duty service members and veterans from deportation by codifying existing guidelines for placing active duty service members and veterans into removal proceedings.
H.R. 4600 has been referred to the House Committees on the Judiciary and Armed Services for further consideration.
