H.Res. 384House108th Congress (2003-2005)In Committee

Supporting the goals of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride.

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

October 22, 2003

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 1, 2003

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

October 1, 2003

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims.

Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

October 22, 2003

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about H.Res. 384 on the floor

2 Democrats

Rep. Lucille Roybal-AllardD-CA-34 · Oct 2, 2003

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 384 that celebrates the successful journey of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride. Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the 1960's Civil Rights…

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 384 that celebrates the successful journey of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride.

Inspired by the Freedom Riders of the 1960's Civil Rights Movement, a broad coalition of individuals including immigrants, union officials, religious leaders, and civil rights activists set out on September 20, 2003 from ten major U.S. cities to educate the public and elected officials about immigrant rights and the injustices of our country's current immigration policies. Over the last 12 days, 900 freedom riders in 18 buses have visited more than 100 cities, towns, and work places.

The freedom riders have educated communities across America about the hardships faced day after day by immigrant workers and their families. Immigrants work in every industry in America. They are construction workers, doctors, nurses, janitors, meat packers, farmworkers, engineers, and soldiers. They care for our children, tend to our elderly, pick and serve our food, build and clean our houses, and what they ask for in return is a fair and equal opportunity to achieve the American dream. Yet, our broken immigration system impedes many because they are unable to live and work freely. Far too many immigrants are exploited by their employers, separated from family, and unprotected by our laws. The Immigrant Workers Freedom Riders have renewed the spirit of the Civil Rights Movement in order to draw attention to the needs of this marginalized community.

But that is not where their effort ends. They have a plan of action-- a solution to many of the hardships encountered by so many immigrants in this country. Their plan has four key proposals: a new legalization program for undocumented immigrants; the right of immigrants to reunite with their families; the protection of immigrants in the workplace; and civil rights and civil liberties for all.

To bring their plan to the attention of our national leaders, the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride arrived in Washington, D.C. on October 1, 2003. I welcome, and congratulate them for embarking on this historic journey.

I particularly want to acknowledge the two buses of freedom riders from Los Angeles. Several of the participants are my constituents who have taken time from their jobs and left their families and children behind in order to make the long journey to Washington, D.C.

I met with a group of them on Thursday, October 2. What they told me was truly inspiring. Some have been in this country for several years while others have only recently arrived, but they all have a love and appreciation for America. They don't want or expect handouts. They believe in hard work and doing their part for our country. What they do want, Mr. Speaker, is what we all want--the opportunity to prosper and to obtain a good life for themselves and their families. They want to be full participants in every aspect of our society.

I applaud the Immigrant Workers Freedom Riders and commend the organizers for helping to ensure that immigrant voices are heard. I am encouraged by the support they have garnered across the country, and I hope that their tour will serve as a catalyst for fair and meaningful reform of our nation's immigration laws. Our immigrant community deserves greater protections under the law, and Congress has an obligation to provide it.

In the words of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.: ``Let us therefore continue our triumphal march to the realization of the American dream . . .''

In keeping with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, we are reminded today that the struggle for civil rights continues for many. The Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride is a renewal of a struggle for fairness and equality for all. I am hopeful that my colleagues and all of America will embrace it.

Rep. Hilda L. SolisD-CA-32 · Sep 21, 2004

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the National Week of Action for Immigrant Rights. Scheduled for Monday, September 20, 2004, through Sunday, September, 26, 2004, hundreds of community activists will mark the National Week of Action by holding rallies, visiting Congressional offices, and hosting educational events throughout the United States to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the historic Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride and highlight the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

It has been nearly one year since hundreds of immigrant workers and their supporters traveled throughout the United States as part of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride. Modeled after the Freedom Rides of the 1960's, the 2003 Freedom Riders raised awareness about the unjust realities of our current immigration policies and urged fair treatment of immigrant workers. I was proud to introduce House Resolution 384, cosponsored by fifty of my colleagues, to honor the Freedom Riders for their courageous campaign and to encourage President Bush and Congress to enact policies that support the goals of the Freedom Ride.

This year's National Week of Action will highlight again the need to reform our broken immigration system. Advocates will urge passage of H.R. 4262, the Safe, Orderly Legal Visas and Enforcement (SOLVE) Act, H.R. 3142, the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefits and Security (AGJOBS) Act, and other legislation which would fix our immigration system while honoring our tradition as a nation of immigrants and strengthening our national security.

The National Week of Action includes a fast by students and supporters to highlight the need for passage of S. 1545, the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act, and H.R. 1684, the Student Adjustment Act. I am a proud original cosponsor of H.R. 1684, bipartisan legislation to open the doors of higher education to immigrant students who work hard and deserve the opportunity to attend college and pursue the American dream.

Throughout our nation's history, we have welcomed immigrants to this country. We should continue to honor this tradition and recognize the enormous economic and cultural contributions that immigrants have made to our nation.

I commend the New American Opportunity Campaign (NAOC) for spearheading the National Week of Action and honor the commitment of its supporters to ensure equal rights for all people. I encourage my colleagues and the American public to use the National Week of Action to learn more about our immigrant community and the need for reform of our immigration system.

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 1, 2003

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 384 Introduced in House (IH)]

108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 384

Supporting the goals of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 1, 2003

Ms. Solis (for herself, Mr. Honda, Mr. George Miller of California, Mr.
Owens, Mr. Berman, Mr. Gutierrez, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Linda T. Sanchez
of California, Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas, Ms. Lee, Mr. Grijalva, Mr.
Crowley, Mr. Serrano, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Reyes, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Ms.
Norton, Mr. Rodriguez, Mr. Towns, Mr. Payne, Mr. Filner, Mr. Lewis of
Georgia, Mr. Baca, Mr. Frost, Mr. Becerra, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Kildee,
Mr. McGovern, Mr. McNulty, Mr. Hinchey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Wynn, and Ms.
Loretta Sanchez of California) submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Supporting the goals of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride.

Whereas the United States has been called ``a Nation of immigrants'';
Whereas throughout the history of the United States, immigrants have helped
build cities, towns, farms, businesses, economies, and civic and
cultural institutions;
Whereas immigrant workers work hard, pay taxes, and sacrifice for their
families;
Whereas immigrants add strength and stability to our economy;
Whereas from September 20, 2003, through October 4, 2003, hundreds of immigrant
workers will board buses and stop in dozens of communities across the
country as part of the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride;
Whereas participants in the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride will raise awareness
about the plight of immigrant workers and advocate for changing our
immigration policy to create a road to citizenship for all immigrant
workers, reunite workers with their families, ensure immigrants' civil
rights and liberties, and protect the rights of immigrants in the
workplace;
Whereas the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride will encourage greater civic
participation by new and future United States citizens;
Whereas the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride is modeled after the 1961 Freedom
Rides of the United States civil rights movement in which student
activists from across the country rode buses in to the Deep South to
challenge segregation;
Whereas the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride is an opportunity to learn from and
honor the civil rights movement history in the United States;
Whereas State legislators and political leaders across the country have endorsed
the ride;
Whereas immigrants work as construction workers, doctors, nurses, janitors, meat
packers, chefs, busboys, engineers, farm workers, and members of the
United States Armed Forces;
Whereas our current immigration system keeps millions of hardworking immigrants
from becoming full members of society in the United States and enjoying
equal rights;
Whereas, according to the United States Department of Commerce, immigrant
workers comprised 12.4 percent of the Nation's labor force in 2000;
Whereas, according to the National Academy of Sciences, immigrants make
indispensable contributions to the economy and contributed at least
$133,000,000,000 in direct taxes to Federal, State, and local
governments in 1997;
Whereas immigrants add about $10,000,000,000 each year to the economy of the
United States;
Whereas undocumented immigrants contribute at least $300,000,000,000 to the
gross national product of the United States annually;
Whereas, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United
States will have a shortage of 10,000,000 workers by the year 2006;
Whereas the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride is sponsored by a large coalition of
labor, community, religious, student, and immigrant groups; and
Whereas the United States needs a policy that recognizes the realities of
contemporary American life and the dynamics of the global economy by
enabling immigrants to adjust their status: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals of the Immigrant Workers Freedom
Ride--
(A) to raise awareness about the need for
immigration reform;
(B) to encourage greater civic participation by new
and future United States citizens;
(C) to advocate for changes in our immigration
policy--
(i) to reward work by granting legal status
to hardworking, taxpaying, law-abiding
immigrant workers already established in the
United States;
(ii) to clear the path to citizenship for
immigrant workers;
(iii) to ensure fair treatment on the job
for immigrant workers;
(iv) to reunite families; and
(v) to respect the civil rights and civil
liberties of immigrants;
(2) recognizes and honors the millions of immigrant workers
in the United States who work hard, pay taxes, and contribute
to our economy and our communities; and
(3) encourages the Congress and the President to support
policies that accomplish the goals of the Immigrant Worker
Freedom Ride.
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