For Immediate Release
April 17, 2007
Contact: Marisa McNee
(917) 733-2351
mmcnee@cirnow.org
CCIR to Congress: “Get it done, do it right and make it work”
(Washington, DC) Today, the Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR) joined with a diverse group of leaders and immigration experts from national faith, labor, and immigrant advocacy organizations in responding to the Gutierrez-Flake bill. The leaders of these 20 groups stressed a need for comprehensive immigration reform legislation to be signed into law this year.
The Gutierrez-Flake bill, also known as H.R. 1645 or the STRIVE Act (Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy), is bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation that was introduced in the House in March and continues to gather cosponsors.
“We welcome the STRIVE Act because it moves us in the direction of our goal: getting comprehensive immigration reform signed into law this year that will work on the ground once it’s implemented. We must replace a badly broken immigration system with a solution that serves our national interests,” said Clarissa Martinez, Campaign Manager for CCIR. “The STRIVE Act is an important first step for making our immigration more humane while addressing border security, economic security and reestablishing the rule of law.”
The Coalition for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (CCIR) is a campaign powered by strategic, coordinated activities by immigrant advocacy, grassroots, religious and labor organizations across the United States and Capitol Hill working to remind our elected representatives in Washington that passing comprehensive immigration reform this year is a priority.
The coalition is focusing its efforts on supporting comprehensive immigration reform that includes the core principles of restoring the rule of law, providing a path to earned citizenship, protecting immigrant and American workers alike, reuniting families, respecting due process, increasing national security and protecting civil and human rights.
“This campaign is a powerful effort driven by leaders of multiple sectors and communities. Support for workable comprehensive immigration reform is broad, diverse and committed,” said Martinez. “Our message to the Congress and the Bush Administration is clear and simple: get it done, do it right, and make it work.”
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