Amnesty bill set to hit Congress floor next week

On Tuesday, December 15, Rep. Luis V. GutierrezLuis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) will introduce new legislation, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform for America's Security and Prosperity Act of 2009, to the U.S. House of Representatives. Gutierrez will have the support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

An estimated 15-20 million illegal immigrants will grab the golden ticket enabling them to come out of the shadows and become American citizens. The immigration reform legislation comes at a time when the country faces 10 percent unemployment and bankrupt states from coast to coast.

This overly ambitious Congress has passed a plethora of bills despite stubborn recession that continues to put a grip the U.S. economy. Here is a sampling of programs House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy Pelosi (D-CA) has passed just this year; $700 billion financial bank bailout, $787 billion stimulus, $1.5 trillion health care expansion, $200 billion doctor fix, $800 billion cap and trade and a $250 billion omnibus spending bill.

This spendingpalooza is over and above the Iraq/Afghanistan war and yearly federal government budget spending obligations. Where’s the money coming from?

Nevertheless, Congress will tackle immigration reform during the worst recession in 25 years and which is expected to add an additional burden to American families.

“We have waited patiently for a workable solution to our immigration crisis to be taken up by this Congress and our President,” said Rep. Gutierrez. “The time for waiting is over. This bill will be presented before Congress recesses for the holidays so that there is no excuse for inaction in the New Year. It is the product of months of collaboration with civil rights advocates, labor organizations, and members of Congress.”

Gutierrez believes this bill is the answer to many years of pain —“mothers separated from their children, workers exploited and undermined security at the border— all caused at the hands of a broken immigration system. This bill says 'enough,' and presents a solution to our broken system that we as a nation of immigrants can be proud of.”

The immigration bill is expected to meet with fierce opposition from anti-illegal immigration groups, tea party groups, lawmakers as well as many ordinary Americans who are struggling to make a living in these tough economic times.

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