Green Card Backlog Fix — S.386 — Collection of Events and Voices registered for, and against, this bill merits

Excerpt —

Punctuated moments of hope and desperate for those who involved, fueled by news cycles and stroke of twitter feeds. As things stand, no relief in sight. Here is the collection of events and voices shaped this bill discourse.

Introduction —

S.386 — This bill is work in progress for more than a year now; people with interest in the outcome of this bill have an uneasy experience over the discourse.

From the outset, each passing event and the twist and turn that characterize this bill trajectory, making them feel nauseated and subject them to an emotional roller coaster rides.

Punctuated moments that offer hopes with the possibility of distance triumph,  then only to shatter by the next news cycle or the stroke of a single tweet from someone who has the power to influence it. And these events are so momentary that matter of less than mayfly lifetime is enough to undo the previous event entirely. Such is life, in the last one and a half years, for those involved in this fight.

As things stand, my prediction is that this bill will not see the finish line in the remaining term of this congress in 2020. In the end, only left with a bitter emotional package came with inter-fight among the immigrant community, partisan bickering, and all positions of propaganda.

Here are the key events that shaped the discourse  —

Apple CEO, Tim Cook

Support from Tech Community —

Salesforce —

Microsoft —

Oppositions from Notables —

Fox business news prime time anchor Lou Dobbs has picked up this issue multiple times in the last year.

Fox News personality Laura Ingraham was a recent one to join the foray via her response to WSJ ad tweet.

Breitbart: Ultra conservative online media outlet

Center for Immigration Studies

Key Legislative Attempts —

Possibly more to come —

Immediately, after the news of a deal between Senators. Lee and Durbin announced,  Breitbart was quick to quell any optimism with their insider scoop about likely objections coming from South Dakota Sen. Mike Rounds to UC.

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin Opposition and Deal —

Mr. Durbin has not only objected to this bill and quick to propose a substitute bill,  In what everyone considers as poison bill, S.2603 — Resolving Extended Limbo for Immigrant Employees and Families Act, also known as RELIEF ACT.

However, through the relentless campaign from the activist groups and immigration community, seemingly agreed for some compromise and latest draft S.386 were out. Whether this is an election year adjustment or genuine interest in finding common ground, only time will tell.

Sep 25, 2019 —

Mr. David Perdue's, Georgia Senator, has expressed on the senate floor that has problems with language, nobody knows what his objection to the bill. And, Senator. Lee offered an amendment that makes him come around to support this bill.

Senator. Rand Paul Compromise —

His objection to this bill had come from its effectiveness in addressing problems specific to the health care sector.

Sen. Lee and Sen. Harris from California did the successful negotiations and settled on a compromise to bring him around to lift his hold.

Sep 2019 —

Senator. Mike Lee attempted to pass this bill through Unanimous Consent (UC), procedural maneuver available to short-circut this process and fast-track it.

Senator. Rand Paul has objected to UC and blocked this bill from getting UC.

Feb 2019 —

S.386: Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019,  this is where the action is, in the last year or so.

Sponsor: Senator. Mike Lee

S.386 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019

Summary of S.386 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019

Congress.gov

Introduced: 02/07/2019

Feb 2019 —

All of this starts with a bill —  H.R.1044 — passed in the House of Congress.

Sponsor: Representative. Zoe Lofgren

Introduced: 02/07/2019

Passed: 07/10/2019

In a matter of five months, secured enough bipartisan support in the house and passed with 365 / 65

H.R.1044 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019

Summary of H.R.1044 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019

Congress.gov

Key Players on both sides —

Against this bill —

Guessing @Dawnnewyorker is the person behind WSJ ads and billboard advertisements against S.386. For that, she should have a spot on this list.

Supporting S.386 —