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`I take this oath solemnly, freely, and without any mental reservation. I absolutely and entirely renounce all allegiance to any foreign state or power of which I have been a subject or citizen. My fidelity and allegiance from this day forward are to the United States of America. I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution and laws of the United States, and will support and defend them against all enemies, foreign and domestic. I will bear arms, or perform noncombatant military or civilian service, on behalf of the United States when required by law. This I do solemnly swear, so help me God.'. Oath of Allegiance to the United States

SENATE CONTINUES DEBATE

ON IMMIGRATION BILL

Amendments Include Scaling Back the Number of Aliens Allowed Temporary Work Visas

English Declared National Language

The bill takes on a variety of immigration issues including border security and law enforcement authority regarding apprehension of illegal aliens, but focuses mostly on work visas, how long workers can stay, how they may begin a path to US citizenship and what prohibits that effort.

A point of contention is the temporary work visa granted to those who have been here without documentation with a provision that allows them to petition for 'earned' status leading to permanent resident status after five years. The next step would be naturalization. Opponents argue that the bill would give amnesty and citizenship to 12 million individuals here illegally.

S 1348

Related bill:

HOUSE INCREASES PENALTIES FOR HUMAN SMUGGLING

Smuggling individuals and groups into the US knowingly and with reckless disregard now faces increase fines and imprisonment. The intent is towards protecting against terrorists smuggling and being smuggled.

HR 2399

HOUSE REVISES IRAQ SPENDING BILL

Withdrawal Time table Withdrawn

Photo: Nick Van Boers

The House-passed war funding bill, HR 2206, included a timeline for troop withdrawal from Iraq, benchmarks for Iraq to meet indicating progress towards taking initiative in the war and provided only half the near $100 billion for the war now and the remainder after consideration of the required President's report on progress towards the benchmarks and other milestones. The bill also included provisions that would raise the minimum wage, provide some small business tax breaks and Gulf disaster relief, State children's healthcare is increased, veterans and Homeland Security are further funded and some agricultural aid is included. Those provisions add about $20 billion to the bill

The Senate considered the House bill, HR 2206, removed all the text and replaced it with several paragraphs stating that Congress will support the troops.

Negotiations with the White House this week made it clear that the President has sufficient votes in Congress to veto the bill. The Majority divided the points of contention into two amendments to the Senate-amended HR 2206. One amendment funds the wars through September, 2007 and without the withdrawal timetable. The other amendment provides the non-war spending included in the bill.

{Vote on War Amendment} 348 to 73

{Vote on Non-war Amendment} 280 to 142

HR 2206

{Senate Vote on HR 2206 as received from the House} 80 to 14

HOUSE TWEAKS LOBBY RULES, TWICE

"HR 2316 aims to improve disclosure in three titles ranging from closing the ‘revolving door’ that brings members of Congress back to Capitol Hill as a lobbyist, provide for full disclosure of lobbying by lobbyists, prohibit certain gifts or travel, enforce lobbying restrictions and prohibits official contact with a spouse of a Member who is a registered lobbyist."

{HR 2316}

HR 2317 focuses squarely on increased requirements of lobbyists to post their activities quarterly electronically.

{HR 2317}