U.S. Congressional Legislation Update

Visit our News page *** LEGISLATIVE ALERT *** UPDATE ON ACT! FOR AMERICA’S LIST OF HIGH PRIORITY LEGISLATION IN THE 112TH CONGRESS by Lisa Piraneo, Director of Government Relations The second half of the 112th Congress has just begun and I thought it would be a good time to update everyone on the status of legislation on ACT! for America’s “High Priority List.” These are legislative proposals that have been introduced in the 112th Congress that we feel are important to our national security interests and which we have publicly endorsed and are actively supporting via the national office and our grassroots base. Please go to the Contact Congress page on our website to learn more about each of these bills and to send a pre-written e-mail of support to your Members of Congress. It couldn’t be easier and it’s so very important. Each of you plays an important role in seeing these critical proposals move through the legislative process successfully. As you’ll see, many are “stuck in committee.” These proposals will move further through the legislative process only if your federal legislators hear from you. Legislation on ACT! for America’s High Priority List for the 112th Congress The “Birthright Citizenship Protection Act of 2011” House Sponsor: Rep. Steve King, R-IA; Senate Sponsor Sen. David Vitter, R-LA STATUS: House: H.R. 140 - Introduced: 1/5/2011 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee; 1/24/11 further referred to its Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement, where it is awaiting further action. Senate: S. 723 - Introduced: 4/5/2011, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it is awaiting further action. The “First Responders Fighting Terrorism Protection Act of 2011” House Sponsor: Rep. Sue Myrick (R-NC) STATUS: House: H.R. 504 - Introduced 1/26/2011, and referred to House Judiciary Committee; 2/14/2011 further referred to its Subcommittee on the Constitution where it is awaiting further action. The “See Something, Say Something Act of 2011” House Sponsor: Rep. Peter King (R-NY); Senate Sponsor: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) STATUS: House: H.R. 495 - Introduced 1/26/2011 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee; 2/28/2011 further referred to its Subcommittee on the Constitution. The legislation was included in the DHS Authorization bill that passed out of the House Homeland Security Committee in November, 2011. The legislation is expected to come before the full House of Representatives for debate and a vote by this spring. Senate: S. 505 - Introduced 3/8/2011 and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary where it is awaiting further action. The “Secure High-voltage Infrastructure for Electricity from Lethal Damage (SHIELD) Act” House Sponsor: Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) STATUS: House: H.R. 668 - Introduced 2/11/2011 and referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee and further to its Subcommittee on Energy and Power. The legislation was also referred to the House Budget Committee. It is awaiting further action by both Committees. The “Team B Act” House Sponsor: Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) STATUS: House: H.R. 1502 - Introduced 4/12/2011 and referred to House Intelligence Committee. A modified version of the Team B Act was included in the Fiscal Year 2012 Intelligence Authorization bill and signed into law on 1/3/2011. It authorizes a one-year competitive analysis exercise in the DNI’s office. Though it’s short of what Rep. Wolf wants, he feels that it’s a good first start, as it provides a competitive analysis on the issue of radicalization. The “Open Fuel Standard Act of 2011” House Sponsor: Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL); Senate Sponsor: Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) STATUS: House: H.R. 1687 - Introduced 5/3/2011 and referred to House Energy and Commerce Committee and further to its Subcommittee on Energy and Power where it is awaiting further action. Senate: S. 1603 - Introduced 9/22/2011 and referred to Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation where it is awaiting further action. The “Secure Visas Act” House Sponsor: Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) STATUS: House: H.R. 1741- Introduced 5/5/2011 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee; and the House Homeland Security Committee. On 5/6/2011the bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement, where hearings were held on 5/11/2011. On 5/19/2011 the bill was referred to the Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security; On 6/23/2011 bill was discussed and modified by the Immigration Policy Subcommittee. They then voted (17-11) that it be sent to the full House of Representatives for further discussion and a vote. It is awaiting further action by the full House of Representatives. The “Secure Border Act of 2011” House Sponsor: Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI) STATUS: House: H.R. 1299 - Introduced 3/31/2011 and referred to the House Homeland Security Committee; On 4/6/2011 the bill was referred to its Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security; On 6/2/2011 the Subcommittee discussed and modified the legislation and then forwarded the bill back to the full Committee; On 9/21/2011the full Committee discussed and further modified the legislation. On 11/10/2011 they then voted to send the legislation to the House floor for debate and a vote. (Report # 112-274); The bill has been placed on the House Union Calendar (where bills wait for the Speaker to schedule discussion and a vote by the full House) and is expected to come before the full House sometime in 2012. The “National Guard Border Enforcement Act” House Sponsor: Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX) STATUS: House: H.R. 152 - Introduced 1/5/2011 and referred to the House Armed Services Committee; 2/4/2011 further referred to its Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities where it is awaiting further action. The “Iran Threat Reduction Act” House Sponsor: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) STATUS: House: H.R. 1905 - Introduced 5/13/2011 and referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee; 12/14/2011 - Passed in the U.S. House of Representatives by vote of 410-11(Roll Call #927) and sent to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where it is awaiting further action. (Note: As this bill passed in the House late last year, there is no active letter writing campaign on our Contact Congress page at this time.) The “9/11 Commission Review Act” House Sponsor: Rep. Peter King (R-NY) STATUS: House: H.R. 2623 - Introduced 7/22/2011 and referred to the House Homeland Security Committee. The legislation was included in the DHS Authorization bill that passed out of the House Homeland Security Committee in November, 2011. The legislation is expected to come before the full House of Representatives for debate and a vote by this spring. REMEMBER, YOUR VOICE COUNTS! IF EACH OF US DOES JUST A LITTLE, TOGETHER WE CAN ACCOMPLISH A LOT! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACT for America P.O. Box 12765 Pensacola, FL 32591 www.actforamerica.org ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. 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