Rima Shah
Rep. David Dreier's counterfeit-proof Social Security card proposal
is getting some play in Washington.
The House Judiciary Committee Immigration Subcommittee will hold a
hearing Thursday to discuss Dreier's legislation, the Illegal
Immigration Enforcement and Social Security Protection Act of 2005,
also known as the Bonner Plan.
Under the plan, the government would provide counterfeit-proof
Social Security cards to anyone wishing to work in the United States
and increase employer penalties for knowingly hiring illegal workers.
The new Social Security card would have a photo and an electronic
identification strip, Dreier said.
A prospective employer would swipe the card or call a toll-free
number on the back of the card to find out whether an applicant is
legally allowed to work in the United States, he said.
The card would have a photo but could not be used as a national
identification card, nor would people be required to carry it at all
times, he said. Any U.S. citizen or permanent resident would be
required to furnish the card when looking for a new job, he said.
The hearing will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in Washington, D.C.
Witnesses for the hearing will be announced early next week.
Dreier votes 'Yes'
on defense spending
Rep. David Dreier, who is chairman of the House Rules Committee,
voted Thursday to fund operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The legislation, known as Emergency Supplemental Appropriations
Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief
Conference Report, includes $82 billion in funding. In that amount is
$75.9 billion to train and equip troops serving in the war on terror.
"This funding bill is absolutely necessary to build on that
success and continue helping the Iraqi people rebuild their country
and establish their democracy," Dreier said.
The bill also provides $635 million for border-security
initiatives, including hiring 500 Border Patrol agents. The bill also
increases the onetime Death Benefit and Gratuity for combat families
from $12,000 to $100,000. It also increases the maximum service
member Group Life Insurance benefit from $250,000 to $400,000. Those
changes are retroactive to the beginning of the conflict in
Afghanistan in 2001.
Politicians seek
women of the year
State Sen. Jack Scott, Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer and
Assemblywoman Carol Liu are accepting nominations for the 2005 "Women
in Business" awards.
These outstanding local women will be honored at a ceremony this
fall.
This year the categories have been expanded to include Women in
Arts and Entertainment, Women in Law and Junior Businesswoman of the
Year.
For further information or to obtain a nomination, contact Teresa
Acosta, Scott's field representative, at (626) 683-0282 or e-mail
Teresa.Acosta@sen.ca.gov.
Schiff seeks change to extradition policy
Rep. Adam Schiff is urging a change to Mexico's extradition policy
on the third anniversary of Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff David
March's murder.
His alleged killer, Armando Garcia, is believed to be hiding in
Mexico. Mexico has refused to extradite Garcia and other Mexican
nationals accused of serious crimes unless prosecutors agree not to
pursue the death penalty, or life in prison, Schiff said.
Schiff, a Democrat who represents Glendale, called on Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice to urge the Mexican government to change its
policy and extradite Garcia. The letter was also signed by 24 other
members of Congress.
