KEY AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED TODAY - CONTACT YOUR SENATORS

The Senate continued debate on the comprehensive immigration reform package with an unusual and complex Senate procedure.  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, (D-NV), introduced a 400-page amendment that encompasses 27 separate amendments.  The unusual procedure is being broken into separate sections as a way to help move the overall legislation.  Yesterday, a total of six votes were held on various amendments and the Senate is expected to hold a second important cloture vote today.  AGC is advocating passage of the cloture vote because failure on this specific vote will end the immigration debate.

Senate Modifies Debarment Amendment to Comprehensive Immigration Reform

• Today, Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) is expected to offer an amendment that is unnecessary, punitive and strips existing due process protections currently afforded to contractors.
• The original McCaskill amendment would automatically debar contractors for immigration violations, effectively putting such contractors out of business.
• Thanks to AGC action, the amendment was modified to require that contractors must be afforded the due process currently outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), which governs Federal procurement law. The FAR is deemed appropriate to deal with embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, tax evasion and other equally egregious behavior. Contractors with alleged violations of this magnitude are dealt with severely, but fairly.  Immigration violations should be treated the same.
• Despite the modification AGC continues to oppose the amendment because it remains overly punitive.

AGC Members Making a Difference

• AGC members across the country have answered the call by utilizing the tools of the Legislative Action Center by sending letters and making phone calls all in effort to continue the debate on immigration reform until the problem is addressed by: strengthening our borders, creating a new worker visa program, and  providing a viable way of dealing with the undocumented.