Mazie Hirono: “I also have letters from over 100 organizations in support of amendment Nos. 1718 and 1504. I ask unanimous consent that…”

“I also have letters from over 100 organizations in support of amendment Nos. 1718 and 1504. I ask unanimous consent that some of these letters of support be printed in the Record following my remarks. I thank UNITE HERE, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, We Belong Together, and the Asian American Justice Center for organizing these letters and for their support. I also thank the AFL- CIO and SEIU for their support. There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in the Record, as follows: June 18, 2013. To All Members of the U.S. Senate: We welcome the Senate's consideration of comprehensive immigration reform as the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) proceeds to the Senate floor. As advocates for the health of the most vulnerable in our communities, we have deep concerns about provisions in S. 744 that would harm the health and well-being of aspiring citizens and their families. Immigrants on the roadmap to citizenship will be paying taxes, and as taxpayers, aspiring citizens should have access to taxpayer-funded programs like all Americans. Senator Hirono (D-HI) plans to introduce an amendment to restore taxpayer fairness to aspiring citizens. The amendment provides that all immigrants who are lawfully present, employed, and have satisfied their federal tax liability shall not be prohibited from using any federally-funded program or tax credit solely on the basis of their immigration status.…”