IRANIAN AMERICAN POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE Congressional Scorecard 109th Congress 2 0 0 5 - 2006 Please visit us on the web at www.iranianamericanpac.org About IAPAC IAPAC is a registered bipartisan political action committee that contributes to candidates for public office who are attuned to the domestic concerns of the Iranian American community. IAPAC focuses exclusively on domestic policy issues such as civil rights and immigration, and it encourages Americans of Iranian descent to actively participate in civic affairs. 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 participation in civic affairs 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 2005-2006 Congressional Scorecard rates members of Congress on votes and other positions taken in the House of Representatives and the Senate in the 109th Congress, 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, represent a large Iranian American constituency, 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 two areas: civil liberties and immigration. The following analysis divides legislation into these 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 Civil Liberties 1. S. 2138 -- Introduced by Senator Russell Feingold (D-WI), S.2138 is known as the End Racial Profiling Act of 2005. The act would prohibit racial profiling in law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels, monitor law enforcement tactics, and provide a mechanism to receive and contend with complaints of racial profiling. Cosponsors of S.2138 will receive a (+). 2. S.1389 -- Introduced by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), known as the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005. The act puts a 4-year sunset on Sections 206 and 215 of the Patriot Act and requires more judicial regulations on particular surveillance activities. It also aims to increase the public’s awareness of the uses of the Patriot Acts powers and places certain restrictions on wiretaps, warrants and e-mail monitoring. These provisions balance the need for security with the importance of maintaining civil liberties. Cosponsors of S.1389 receive a (+). Immigration 1. S. 2611 -- Also known as the Comprehension Reform Act of 2006, S.2611 was introduced by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and passed on May 25, 2006. The law offers a path to citizenship for undocumented aliens as well as making a point to strengthen border security. Additionally, the legislation also raises the number of visas for high tech workers and expedites the unification of families currently awaiting visas - measures that will positively impact some of the immigration related concerns of the Iranian American community. Senators who voted for S.2611 will receive a (+), and those who voted against it will receive a (-). 2. S.1278 -- This bill was introduced on June 21, 2005 by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT). S. 1278 would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide a mechanism for United States citizens and lawful permanent residents to sponsor their permanent partners for residence in the U.S. The bill defines the term permanent partner as (a) someone who is in a committed relationship with another individual, (b) who is financially interdependent with that other individual, (c) is not married to or in a permanent partnership with anyone except that individual, (d) is unable to contract with that individual a marriage recognized by the INA, and (e) is not a first, second or third degree blood relative of that individual. S.1278 is companion legislation to H.R.3006. Cosponsors of the bill will receive a (+). 3. S.455 -- Introduced on February 17th 2005 by Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), S.455 would amend the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 to facilitate U.S. openness to the outside world. The act requires the President to develop a strategic plan for enhancing the access of foreign students, scholars, scientists, and exchange visitors. The act also calls for improvements in visa processing, and sets standards for timeliness in security reviews of pending visa applications. Cosponsors of S.455 receive a (+). 4. S.2075 -- S. 2075 is known as the DREAM Act of 2005, and was introduced by Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) on November 18th, 2005. The act amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to repeal the denial of an unlawful alien’s eligibility for higher education benefits based on state residence unless a U.S. citizen is also eligible without regard to state residence. The act also authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to cancel the removal of aliens who (a) entered the U.S. before they turned 16, and have been present in the country for more than five years before the DREAM Act was adopted, (b) are of good character, (c) are not eligible for deportation, (d) have been admitted to an institution of higher education, or earned a high school or equivalent diploma, and (e) have never been under an order of exclusion, deportation, or removal from at least the age of 16. S.2075 is companion legislation to H.R. 5131 described below. Cosponsors of the DREAM Act receive a (+). House of Representatives Civil Liberties 1. H. AMDT 280 to H.R. 2862 -- Introduced by Representative Bernard Sanders (I-VT), this is an amendment to the Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2006, which prohibits funds from the Act from being used to implement provisions of Section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act which permits searches of library circulation records, library patron lists, book sales records, or book customer lists under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). The Amendment is a reintroduction of the Freedom to Read Protection Act, which was introduced by Sanders in 2005. The House passed the amendment on June 15, 2005 by a vote of 238 -187. Representatives who voted for H. AMDT 280 receive a (+); those who voted against it receive a (-). 2. H.R. 1502 -- Introduced by Representative Howard Berman (D-28th/CA), H.R. 1502 is known as the Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2005 (CLRA). The act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to require removal proceedings to be open to the public. It also terminates the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) and other relative removal proceedings. Iranian Americans may be particularly interested to know that Section 301 of CLRA restores the rights of individuals unfairly targeted by the NSEERS registration program. The act also requires Federal agencies to report data-mining activities to Congress. Representatives who cosponsored H.R. 1502 receive a (+). 3. H.R.1310 -- Introduced by Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-14th/NY), H.R. 1310 is known as the Protection of Civil Liberties Act. It amends the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 by making the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board an independent agency within the Executive branch. (Currently, the board is established within the Executive Office of the President). The act also requires the Board to receive and review reports from privacy and civil liberties officers and report at least semiannually to specified congressional committees concerning board activities and other appropriate matters. Representatives who cosponsored H.R. 1310 receive a (+). 4. H.Res.367 -- Introduced by Representatives Martin Meehan (D-5th/MA) and Christopher Shays (R-4th/CT), H.Res.367 condemns bigotry and discrimination against Iranian Americans. The resolution is a response to documented reports of discrimination targeting the Iranian American community. The resolution acknowledges the diversity of the Iranian American community and their contributions to the social and economic fabric of American society.