Yesterday, the House passed a $4.6 billion emergency border aid Senate bill, without any amendments, thanks to the clamor of centrist Democrats. Representatives Jayapal and Smith, along with 93 other House Democrats, voted against this bill – but it passed anyway.
By passing this bill with no amendments, the House essentially wrote a blank check that will be used to fund ICE and may be used for deportations. Progressives in the House had planned to amend the bill to specify basic standards of care for children being held in detention centers at the border, but now that is not possible.
As Rep. Jayapal tweeted just before the vote: “[The] Senate bill does absolutely nothing to hold a rogue administration accountable for cruelty. It has no provisions to ensure $$ goes to the children or that for-profit agencies are held accountable.”
ACTION: Thank Jayapal and Smith for voting their conscience.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal–DC 202-225-3106; Seattle 206-674-0040
Rep. Adam Smith–DC 202-225-8901; Renton 425-793-5180
Suggested Script:
“Hi, my name is [NAME] and I’m calling from [PLACE]. I’d like to thank [Representative] for voting no on the Senate’s emergency border aid bill yesterday. The House missed an opportunity to amend this bill to protect immigrants and improve conditions for children currently suffering in custody. Voting against the Senate’s bill was the right decision; I am proud to have a representative who votes his/her conscience.”
Background:
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/450707-house-democrats-cave-will-take-up-senate-border-bill
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/27/house-vote-emergency-border-package-1385222
EVENTS:
TRANS PRIDE PARADE Friday, June 28
5 PM at Cal Anderson Park
https://www.transprideseattle.org/
Donate to provide additional security at the event https://www.transprideseattle.org/donate2019
GOOD NEWS:
The Supreme Court ruled against the proposed citizenship question in the 2020 census, which would have had rippling negative effects on immigrant communities: https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/27/politics/census-supreme-court/index.html
