Congressional Scorecard 108Th Congress 2 0 0 3 – 2 0 0 4
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IRANIAN AMERICAN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Congressional Scorecard 108th Congress 2 0 0 3 – 2 0 0 4 The Iranian American Political Action Committee The Iranian American Political Action Committee (IAPAC) is a registered bipartisan federal political committee that contributes to candidates for federal office who are attuned to the domestic concerns of the American Iranian community. IAPAC focuses exclusively on domestic policy issues such as civil rights, immigration and civil liberties, and encourages Americans of Iranian descent to actively participate in the electoral process: to vote and run for political office. Mission: * To support and promote the election of candidates for federal, state and local office, regardless of party affiliation, who are attuned to the domestic needs and issues of the Iranian American community; * To support and promote Iranian American candidates for public office; and, * To support and advance legislation as it affects the concerns of the Iranian American community Issue Advocacy Civil Liberties: Balancing Civil Liberties and National Security in the Post-9/11 Era. Protecting our security and ensuring that the government does not infringe upon basic constitutional rights have long been important issues for civil libertarians and certain ethnic communities. IAPAC believes that our government must take the appropriate measures to protect our nation from further atrocities, but that it can do so without eliminating basic constitutional rights. Immigration: Immigration reform that is driven by proper national security concerns and remedies based on a fair and accurate appraisal of deficiencies in the immigration process, and not simply on national origin. Specifically, IAPAC advocates for a fair and measured execution of federal regulations governing the issuance of non-immigrant and immigrant visas for Iranian nationals. Congressional Scorecard The IAPAC 2003 –2004 Congressional Scorecard rates members of Congress on votes and other positions taken in the House of Representatives and the Senate which affect the domestic needs of the Iranian American community. The primary purpose of the Scorecard is to ensure that Iranian Americans are informed about the voting records and performances of their members of Congress. In addition, the Scorecard ensures that members of Congress are aware that their votes and positions on issues of importance to the Iranian American community will be analyzed and made public. It examines votes and positions for only the years in question, and does not in any way reflect each individual’s voting record in the past. The Scorecard is merely one of many tools used by IAPAC to identify potential candidates to support, and it does not indicate IAPAC’s approval or disapproval of the candidates in question. The candidates who receive contributions from IAPAC have an exceptional track record on the domestic issues of importance to the Iranian American community, have articulated a readiness to engage and work with Iranian Americans or are in a position to have influence over the domestic legislative issues of concern to the community. The Scorecard is based on legislation or other issues currently before the U.S. Congress. IAPAC focuses on bills and congressional actions, which bear on three areas: civil liberties, immigration and willingness to be responsive to the Iranian American community. The following analysis divides legislation into these three categories. The analysis also states whether IAPAC supports (+) or opposes (-) each measure, and explains the reasoning behind IAPAC's decision. The designation "S" refers to a bill in the Senate, while "HR" refers to a bill introduced into the House of Representatives. SENATE Immigration 1. S.922—The Naturalization and Family Protection for Military Members Act of 2003, introduced by Senator Harry M. Reid (D-NV) on April 11, 2003, would change requirements for naturalization through service in the U.S. Armed Forces. Naturalization benefits would be extended to members of the Armed Forces, and posthumous benefits would be granted to surviving children, parents, and spouses. Co-sponsors receive a (+). Civil Liberties: 1. S.1552—Protecting the Rights of Individuals Act, introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) on July 31, 2003. The act takes many steps to safeguard the basic civil rights of all Americans. The measures adopted include a limitation on the authority of U.S. law enforcement agencies to delay notices for search warrants. The ability of the FBI to review someone’s personal information, including medical and Internet records, is also limited by the act. Co-sponsors of S.1552 will receive a (+). 2. S.188—The Data-Mining Moratorium Act of 2003, introduced by Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI). The act addresses the issue of "data-mining." The practice of data-mining enables the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security to obtain access to highly personal information concerning the lives of individual Americans, such as medical records and credit reports, in the name of combating terrorism. The Data Mining Moratorium Act of 2003 would suspend the development of data-mining programs until Congress finishes a lengthy investigation of data-mining. Senators who Co-sponsor the Data-Mining Moratorium Act of 2003 will receive a (+). 3. S.1709—The Security and Freedom Ensured (SAFE) Act, introduced by Senators Larry Craig (R-ID) and Richard Durbin (D-IL). A bill to amend the USA PATRIOT ACT to place reasonable limitations on the use of surveillance and the issuance of search warrants, and for other purposes. Cosponsors will receive a (+). 4. S. 2528— The Civil Liberties Restoration Act (CLRA), introduced by Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA). A bill to restore civil liberties under the First Amendment, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, and for other purposes. Policies include: termination of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration program; the limitation of the government’s ability to conduct covert seizures of individuals’ private records. Cosponsors will receive a (+). Special Category: Senators receive a (+) or (-) for special initiatives in support or in opposition to Iranian American concerns. These include immigration, civil rights and other issues affecting the Iranian American community. 1. HJ Resolution 2—Senators who proposed the Kyl-Kennedy-Feinstein-McCain-Feingold Amendment to the Omnibus Appropriations Bill. This amendment, which cut funding for the National Security Entry-Exit Programs (NSEERS) and required Attorney General John Ashcroft to report to Congress regarding the program, did not make it into the final version of the bill. Senators who proposed H.J. Resolution 2 receive a (+). 2.(+) —Senator Charles Schumer, for chairing a meeting of the Department of Justice, Department of State, and Central Intelligence Agency to discuss the implementation of Section 306 of the Enhanced Security and Border Reform Act. In an official press release, Senator Schumer stated that “…we do not want our non- immigrant visa policy to impose undue hardship on American citizens, including Iranian Americans…” 3. (+)—Senators Barbara Boxer, John Kerry, John Edwards, Thomas Carper, Hillary Clinton, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Joe Biden, Bill Nelson, Joe Lieberman, and Dan Lugar, for expressing interest and sending representatives to the meeting to discuss the implementation of Section 306 of the Enhanced Security and Border Reform Act. 4. (+)— Senator Charles Schumer for contacting the Department of Homeland Security to inquire about the delays over the issuance of non-immigrant visas caused by the interim procedures currently in place to enforce Section 306. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Immigration: 1. H.R. 47—Congressman John Conyers (D-MI) introduced the Restoration of Fairness Act of 2003 as HR 47. This act is designed to reduce potential abuses of immigration laws passed in 1996. The act directs the Attorney General to give regular reports concerning the status of individuals detained after September 11, 2001. The Secretary of State is ordered to create a Board of Visa Appeal to examine instances of visa denial, and mandates due process of law in expedited removal proceedings. Co-sponsors receive a (+). 2. H.R. 2671—CLEAR (Clear Law Enforcement for Alien Removal) Act. Congressman Charles Norwood (R- GA) introduced the CLEAR Act. If passed, the Act would give local law enforcement agencies the responsibility of enforcing federal immigration laws. Additionally, the act would greatly increase penalties for immigration violations, even those of a minor nature. Local police forces are ill equipped to understand and implement complex immigration laws. Furthermore, police depend on the trust of their communities to perform their duties--a trust that would be severely eroded by the CLEAR Act. While it is the duty of all immigrants to the United States to observe immigration laws, it is unfair to excessively penalize well-meaning individuals for minor technical violations of those laws that are unintentional. Co-sponsors will receive a (-). 3. H.R. 3075—STEP (Stop Terrorists Entry Program) Act. Congressman Gresham Barrett (R-SC 3rd) introduced the Stop Terrorists Entry Program (STEP) Act. The STEP Act would prevent individuals from the seven countries—Iran among them—who have been designated by the U.S. State Department as terrorist states from visiting, studying, or working in the United States. The act would also require all non-immigrant visitors and students from these countries