House Passes Bill Lifting Per-Country Visa Quotas

By Andrea Salazar

By a 389-15 vote, the House passed legislation Tuesday night removing per-country quotas on employment-based visas for high-skilled immigrants.

As it stands now, any given foreign nation has access to no more than 7 percent of the visas the United States issues. Supporters say this bill would help manufacturers by removing that cap and making visas available to high-skilled immigrants around the world.

The bill now goes to the Senate where Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who chairs an immigration subcommittee within the Senate Judiciary Committee, praised the passage of the bill as “a harbinger for progress on other immigration issues.”

“This will remove outdated constraints that prevent us from attracting the kind of innovators who can create job growth in America,” Schumer said. “We will move the bill as quickly as possible in the Senate, where we expect it to find overwhelming support.”

Lawmakers To Honor Staffer Killed In Tucson Shooting

The House is voting Wednesday on a resolution to name a room in the U.S. Capitol’s visitor center after Gabriel Zimmerman, a Congressional staffer killed in January’s shooting in Tucson.

The resolution was brought to the floor by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), a close friend of Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.). The room will serving as a meeting space.

Gabriel “Gabe” Zimmerman was a community outreach director for Giffords and had worked for the Arizona Democrat since 2006. He was the first Congressional staffer to be killed while serving in his position.

Reid Accuses GOP Of Playing Politics With Payroll Relief

By Tim Young

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) accused Republicans Tuesday of playing party politics over Democrats’ plan to extend and expand tax cuts for the middle class.

“Republicans know that raising tax on the middle class is the wrong thing to do,” said Reid following the Democratic Policy Committee’s weekly luncheon. “That’s why, in the past, they’ve always supported [breaks].”  

Reid claimed that the Republicans’ change of heart was made for the simple reason of stopping President Obama, “even if it means hitting the middle class with a thousand dollar tax increase.”

The Majority Leader specifically drew attention to Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) for supporting tax cuts in the past for the middle-class, a position which he contends has changed in recent times.

Kerry Calls For Swift Transition In Egypt

By Mike Hothi

On the cusp of parliamentary elections in Egypt, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair John Kerry (D-Mass.) called on the Egyptian military to allow for a “prompt transition” to civilian rule.

“The Egyptian people have summoned grit, determination, and commitment casting their ballots even in the face of turmoil,” said Kerry. “Now the military must make way for a prompt transition to a civilian government with real authority.”

Kerry’s comments come as protestors have occupied Tahrir Square, demanding an immediate end to military rule. Tahrir Square is the same location protestors gathered during the revolt that led to the ouster of longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak earlier this year.

Kerry continued, “I hope that today’s elections mark the beginning of a new political order for Egypt. The work that began in Tahrir Square mustn’t end there.”

Longtime Texas Democrat Calling It Quits

Rep. Charles Gonzalez announced Friday that he will not seek re-election next year. The decision to end his twelve-year career in the House was spurred by his desire “to do something else — what that is, I really don’t know.”

President Obama released a statement in response to the news:

“For a combined 50 years, Charlie Gonzalez and his father have represented Texas’ 20th Congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. In Congress, Charlie has fought tirelessly for a cleaner environment, Wall Street reform and more accessible health care for Texans.  As Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, he has worked nonstop to deliver much needed relief to deserving immigrant families and to protect the civil rights of Latinos and all Americans. Michelle and I wish him and his family the very best and join the people of Texas in thanking him for his many years of  service.

House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) also put out a statement, calling Gonzalez a “dedicated public servant who has been a leader on voting rights issues.”