The New Administration and Congress
With a new Administration and Congress, both controlled by Republicans,
and with the Senate divided 50-50 we are under an unprecedented power sharing
agreement.
What immigration issues move into the 107th Congress will
depend to a large degree on Congressional Republican leadership. Republican
leadership have in a sense determine their high priority issues, through
the naming of the chairs of the Senate and House Immigration Subcommittees.
Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), no friend of immigration, now heads
the House Judiciary Committee, Senator Orrin Hatch will continue to chair
the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Senate Subcommittee chair is Senator
Sam Brownback (R-KS) who, as a Representative in 1996, helped lead the effort
in support of legal immigration.
House and Senate Immigration Committees Chairs
House: Representative James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) will chair the House
Judiciary Committee. Republican Committee members are: Henry J. Hyde, Ill.,
George W. Gekas, Pa., Howard Coble, N.C., Lamar Smith, Texas, Elton Gallegly,
Calif., Robert W. Goodlatte, Va., Steve Chabot, Ohio, Bob Barr, Ga., Bill
Jenkins, Tenn., Asa Hutchinson, Ark., Christopher B. Cannon, Utah, Lindsey
Graham, S.C., Spencer Bachus, Ala., Joe Scarborough, Fla., John Hostettler,
Ind., Mark Green, Wis., Richard "Ric" Keller, Fla., Darrell Issa, Calif.,
Melissa Hart, Pa., Jeff Flake, Ariz. On the Democratic side, Representative
John Conyers (D-MI) will remain as the Ranking Minority Member. The other
Democratic members include: B. Franks, Mass., Berman, CA, Boucher, VA, Nadler,
NY, Schott, VA, Watt, NC, Lofgren, CA, Jackson Lee, TX, Waters, CA, Meehan,
Mass., Delahunt, Mass., Wexler, FL, Bladwin, Wis., Weiner, NY, Schiff, CA.
Chairman Sensenbrenner supported the final H-1B increase. Neither the House
Immigration Subcommittee chair nor the members have yet to be named. At
last report, three members were in the running to chair the subcommittee:
Bob Barr (R-GA), Steve Chabot (R-OH), and Chris Cannon (R-UT).
The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee responsible for the
Department of Justice and the INS’ budget has changed. Representative Hal
Rodgers (R-KY) will no longer chair this committee. (Representative Rogers
was one of the authors of an INS reorganization bill introduced last year
that many organizations opposed because it lacked the fundamental principles
for true reform: separate but coordinate the enforcement and adjudication
functions, put someone in charge with clout, and provide adequate appropriations
to support adjudications.) Stepping into the job is Representative Frank
Wolf (R-VA). Representative Wolf has been supportive of business immigration.
Senate: Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) will return as chair of the Senate
Judiciary Committee and Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Mitch McConnell
(R- KY) will join the full committee. Committee Democrats are: Patrick J.
Leahy, Vt. - ranking member, Edward M. Kennedy, Mass., Joseph R. Biden Jr.,
Del., Herb Kohl, Wis., Dianne Feinstein, Calif., Russell D. Feingold, Wis.,
Charles E. Schumer, N.Y., Richard J. Durbin, Ill. ,Maria Cantwell, Wash.
With the defeat of Spencer Abraham (R-MI) by Debbie Stabenow, the chair
of the Immigration Subcommittee was up for grabs. Senator Brownback is the
new chair, Senator Kennedy will remain as Ranking Minority member. Senator
Judd Gregg (R-NH) will remain the chair of the Senate Commerce, State and
Justice appropriations subcommittee.
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