A Labor Hero

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter

When Mary T. Norton was elected to Congress in 1925 from New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, she was only the fifth woman elected to the House, and the first female Democrat.  She was the first of only two women to represent the 12th District. (Florence Dwyer was the second.) Altogether only five women have represented New Jersey in Congress. In her congressional career, “Battling Mary” served as chair of four committees, most notably the House Committee on Labor from 1937 to 1946, where she helped enact the groundbreaking Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 – which established the 40-hour work week, outlawed child labor, and established the first federal minimum wage – and fought for equal pay for women. That struggle for fair wages and equal pay for equal work continues.

White House Report on Antibiotics

Recently the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released its report on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance, a problem of growing concern to the medical and scientific community. Since the onset of widespread use of antibiotics in the 1940’s many infections that were often fatal are simply cured. In recent years, though, doctors and researchers have seen a trend: bacteria develop resistances to these lifesaving antibiotics, and people die as a result. 

Recently, the number of bacteria that are resistant to some - or in a few cases all - of the commercially available antibiotics has risen. There is a troubling trend of overuse by both the medical and agricultural community, which has further exacerbated the issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 50 percent of prescribed antibiotics in the U.S. are at best not optimally prescribed, or at worst not needed at all. In addition, the overuse of antibiotics in the agricultural community has led to an additional spike in antibiotic resistant bacteria, which harm human health.

Bacteria continually evolve so we must invest in research for new antibiotics. However, to exacerbate the risk to humans by selecting for resistant strains through overuse of antibiotics is irresponsible. The PCAST report brings attention to the deadly seriousness of the problem, and the report contains numerous recommendations about such things as detection of resistant bacteria and more research, although I think the report could have been stronger in condemning the overuse.

My Mailbag

I like to share with you occasionally some of the letters, emails, and phone calls I receive about various issues. It may be instructive to know the huge range of concerns of your neighbors in the 12th District. Here are several communications:

Roslyn from Monroe wrote about the recent Supreme Court ruling on Hobby Lobby, and expressed her concern that the ruling opened the door for private companies to use religion to discriminate against female workers and dependents. I let Roslyn know that I am a cosponsor of legislation that would override the Supreme Court’s decision and reinstate the right to contraceptive coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act – for all women, regardless of where they work.

Gertrude from Hopewell e-mailed to support the EPA’s proposal to protect clean water by closing polluter loopholes that have left drinking water for more than 1 in 3 Americans at risk. I wrote back to let Gertrude know of my support for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Clean Water Rule, which will identify and protect interconnected wetlands and streams vital for downstream communities.

John in Hightstown wrote that the granting of US citizenship to children born in the US to foreign nationals is more generous than the practice in some other countries and should be stopped. I pointed to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and said there seems to be no ambiguity that children born here are citizens. Furthermore, to deny them the valuable opportunity to take part fully in the opportunities and obligations of our country would deprive those who have done nothing wrong themselves, and would even punish ourselves by creating a more restrictive society.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

New Rule Severely Restricts US Visas for Families of Americans Abroad

I received the information below from a friend of mine who has been living and working overseas for a number of years now and is concerned about the new policy towards immigration affecting a number of ex-patriates who may have been married and had children while living out of the country. The new rules will restrict those seeking to return to the U.S. with family members who were not natural born citizens.

So for those that have loved ones working and living overseas or may be thinking about it, this information may be of interest to them.

A major procedural shift announced as a Rule Change by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to the alien relative visa request form (I-130) to promote “efficiency and flexibility” is set to have a devastating effect on the Americans in 172 countries who want to move home now or at any time in the future with their non-American family members.

FACT SHEET

Before the Rule Change, an Efficient Process with Face-to-Face Assistance

• Each year, 16,000 Americans abroad submit Form I-130 to move back to the US with their families, and most go to the nearest US Consulate.

• As of August 15th, Form I-130 cannot be submitted at US Consulates. Americans in 172 countries will only be able to conduct the process by mail, through the USCIS Chicago Lockbox.

• Americans abroad may not cross borders to the closest USCIS field office to submit the form.

After the Rule Change, Overseas Americans Forced into a Long-distance Process

• Prolonged approvals will result, from 1-3 months to 1-3 years, likely separating families from the start to the visa interview.

• During the approval process, separated family members will not be allowed to visit the US. Form I-130 becomes evidence against visitor visas, and all non-American family members will be subject to greater scrutiny due to this Rule Change.

• American families will be separated for years due to the Rule Change.

• Documents and evidence will be sent internationally rather than handled in-country. Notices, including key deadlines, will be sent by international mail, subject to theft and erratic service –delays may result in automatic rejections.

• American citizens will be forced to decide between waiting years and abandoning their families. Only long-distance interaction with government officials will decide to grant a visa interview. Consular officials will no longer be involved.

• Fee payment (Checks or money orders only) must be drawn on a US bank or financial institution.

• Arbitrary and discriminatory effect on American families, due to where they live. An estimated 10,000 Americans each year will be hurt by the Rule Change.

USCIS Fails to Provide Fair and Forthright Notice of the Rule Change

• The USCIS calls this a simple “form change” to promote “efficiency and flexibility” for the agency. For American citizens living abroad, the door to the US will be shut, and it will happen without notice.

• The USCIS did not attempt to evaluate the impact on American families abroad. The rule can still be suspended for study, but the USCIS proceeds without regard for the consequences.

• The USCIS & STATE DEPT deliberately chose not to warn Americans who obtain the form prior to August 15th. As of August 1st, the State Department has not issued any notice that Consular officials will no longer deal with these requests.

• The Rule Change does not save money for anyone. All expenses for immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing are mandated by law to be covered by the fees charged. The fees to begin the process are more than $400, and more fees are required to continue. Secure international mailings will increase the cost of each submission by hundreds of dollars.

• The USCIS inaccurately describes the process as a benefit to Americans abroad, because local mail services substitute for traveling short distances for face-to-face assistance.

For more information, IMMIGRATION@democratsabroad.org and visit the
Democrats Abroad Immigration Group’s Webpage


Rule Citation: http://www.democratsabroad.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=94067&qid=13103968
DHS Docket No. USCIS–2011–0002 -- Federal Register, Vol.76,No. 95,

Tuesday, May 17, 2011, Page 28303