Among us in America are some 11 million people who live in the shadows.  They are workers who are denied fair pay and decent treatment by their employers, students who fear expulsion from the only country they’ve ever known, and soldiers who have defended this nation but fear that America may one day decide it has no place for them.  They are undocumented immigrants.

A group of immigrants and activists have set up camp on the National Mall a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol.  Since last Tuesday, they have fasted.  They have, in their own words, taken “a vow to abstain from sustenance” to “inspire a resilient movement to cease the deportations, suffering, sorrow and fear and usher a new structure of laws for the good of our country men and women and the sake of our values.”

I visited the protesters earlier this week to offer my support.  Today, America has an immigration system that meets none of its stated principles; it fails to promote family reunification, labor market demands, humanitarian considerations, or even our national security.

Although Speaker Boehner has said he will not allow a vote on a comprehensive immigration reform bill this year, I remain hopeful that the House will act in this Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that will refocus on these priorities, create a structured pathway to citizenship for qualified undocumented immigrants, and benefit all Americans.

Accepting Internship Applications for Spring 2014

I am currently accepting applications for Congressional internships in my offices in West Windsor and Washington, D.C. for the spring of 2014.  Interns may currently be in high school, college, or beyond.  Many interns are able to arrange academic credit for their work, and all gain invaluable experience and individual attention to their personal and professional development. 

Congressional interns are selected on a competitive basis and contribute in many ways to my work for central New Jersey, including aiding in legislative research, attending congressional hearings, helping address New Jerseyans’ problems with federal agencies, conducting community outreach, and helping with administrative duties.  Further information is available on my website, and the application deadline for the spring semester is December 12.

Protecting Women’s Health

A woman's right to choose is just that:  a basic human right.  But in recent years, reactionary state legislatures have chipped away at this right, obstructing the ability of women to control their own bodies and the ability of doctors to serve their patients.

Together with Rep. Judy Chu and others, I have introduced the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would roll back excessive restrictions on reproductive care.  It would, for instance, deem unlawful restrictions on abortion that are more burdensome than restrictions placed on other comparable medical procedures or that do not advance women’s health.  Now is the time for the federal government to step in to reassert the dignity, independence, and Constitutional rights of each woman.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress