CIR - National phone campaign – 29th April, 2010 to 14th May, 2010

[apoojo]

Apart from calling all senators, I am thinking of writing to them/their offices as well. I guess different forms of communication would not hurt.

Many people stuck in the greencard backlog are not even aware of these steps (and organizations such as IV). How can we all help? Spread the word... post the link to Pappu's message in your facebook feed / blog etc.

[skgs2000]

I thnk we should list email/phones/fax besides each name here as well. It makes it easier. for sure, fones, letter, faxes all will help for sure !

[willigetgc?]

U.S. Senate: Senators Home

Senators list with phone, and web email can be found.

[ajay]

I did call and left a voice message as suggested by Pappu.
Hope for the best. Support IV as always.

[jediknight]

Thanks Pappu and the other IV folks. Will be contacting the senators today.

Congress111 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store

I am not affiliated to the creator of this app in any way but this is a neat little app that also lets you send messages to senators and congressmen.

Congress111 iPhone Application Screenshots « Mike's Dev Blog

- JK

[jungalee43]

I am sad to see people posting messages on “inevitable future of CIR”, “US political system is broken”. But they don’t consider it important to contact their senators and follow IV’s instructions on making phone calls. Please understand the need of the hour and don’t waste time in making judgments or making predictions. Just follow what IV core is asking you to do.
Just call, call and call. I am starting my second round of calls.

[ambals03]

Senator John Kyl (R-Texas)

Should say:
Senator Jon Kyl - (R - AZ)
(202) 224-4521

[augustus]

I did my part and called the Missouri Senator office. They said they will pass the message. I am not sure how effective it will be. But I will continue my efforts regardless. We come from a country where Gandhi got us independence through non-violence. I believe it is in our blood.

Remember Gandhi here and march ahead for what is purely discriminatory.

Indians can repeat this all over again, if only we put our hands together unity.

Jai Hind.

[dummgelauft]

I don't know where the phone campaign stands in light of this

Obama takes immigration reform off agenda - Yahoo! News

POTUS has openly declared "no appetite for CIR"...

So, I guess, all we can do is eat the kela that has once again been given to us...

[Administrator2]

Originally Posted by dummgelauft

I don't know where the phone campaign stands in light of this

Obama takes immigration reform off agenda - Yahoo! News

POTUS has openly declared "no appetite for CIR"...

So, I guess, all we can do is eat the kela that has once again been given to us...

Those comments were made by the President before the Senate Democrats press event. In fact one reporter asked Sen. Reid about the President's comments. It is not possible the Senate democrats do immigration press event on the Hill without the concurrence of the President.

We think that the President is trying to make his sincere push for the reform which requires a bi-partisan support. He did not say that he is taking immigration off the agenda. So this article is misinterpreting the comments of the President.

[desigirl]

IV Team,
I have been calling the list of Senators - and some of them say they do not support amnesty. I do talk about high skilled immigrants (from pappu's brief). My question is how do I make the distinction between the two groups without sounding that I am being against the undocumented?
Appreciate your help on this as I continue calling the Senators. Thanks

[Edison99]

Good thought desigirl

[Administrator2]

Originally Posted by desigirl

IV Team,
I have been calling the list of Senators - and some of them say they do not support amnesty. I do talk about high skilled immigrants (from pappu's brief). My question is how do I make the distinction between the two groups without sounding that I am being against the undocumented?
Appreciate your help on this as I continue calling the Senators. Thanks

Thanks, we expect some of the offices will say this. There can be lot of answers to this question. One way to respond is -

"For last 10 years there has been no High-skilled immigration bill passed by the Congress. The world has changed in last 10 years. I understand that the Senator is a champion for creating more jobs in America. Employment based green cards will create jobs in America. I want to start my own company and hire people in America. But I cannot do that if I don't have a green card.

I would sincerely request you to please convey to the Senator if he would consider supporting some version of the immigration bill
giving more weight to green cards and creating jobs in America, or maybe the Senator could lead the effort for improving the proposal"


Please always end the call on a cordial note thanking the Staff member.

[willigetgc?]

Originally Posted by pappu

TIER I: LIST OF KEY SENATORS FOR CIR


Senator Scott Brown (R-Massachusetts)
(202) 224-4543

Senator Judd Gregg (R-New Hampshire)
(202) 224-3324

Senator Richard Lugar (R-Indiana)
(202) 224-4814

Senator Michael Enzi (R-Wyoming)
(202) 224-3424

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina)
(202) 224-5972

Senator John Ensign (R-Nevada)
(202) 224-6244

Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah)
(202) 224-5251

Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas)
(202) 224-2934

Senator John Kyl (R-Arizona)
(202) 224-4521

Senator Mitch Mcconnell (R-Kentuky)
(202) 224-2541

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota)
(202) 224-3244

Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri)
(202) 224-6154

Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana)
(202) 224-2644

Senator Jim Webb (D-Virginia)
(202) 224-4024

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island)
(202) 224-2921


TIER II: LIST OF KEY SENATORS SPONSORING OR CO-SPONSORING CIR BILL

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nevada)
(202) 224-3542

Senator Dick Durbin (Illinois)
(202) 224-2152

Senator Chuck Schumer (New York)
(202) 224-6542

Senator Patrick Leahy (Vermont)
(202) 224-4242

Senator Dianne Feinstein (California)
(202) 224-3841

Senator Bob Menendez (New Jersey)
(202) 224-4744

Sen. Ben Cardin (Maryland)
(202) 224-4524

All the numbers listed by Pappu are correct, and no changes need to be made.

I called both sets of Senators, and gave our stand on this immigration reform issue to each Sen. office, and here is the feedback from them:

Sen Brown: Will review the bill and will let his position known in a weeks time.
Sen Gregg: He has no position currently
Sen Lugar: Since the bill has no language yet, he would like to wait before he gives an opinion. He has previously supported immigration reform. He is continuing to meet with Sen. Schumer
Sen. Enzi: Does not support amnesty and he will let us know what his position on high skilled immigrant provisions in a week
Sen. Graham: Left message
Sen. Ensign: Has no comments, asked for NV address
Sen. Hatch: Staff read the press release regarding yesterday's framework, which states that this is partisan politics, and border enforcement has to be done first. Told him our position and asked for support
Sen. Cornyn: Could not leave message as there was high volume. will call back again. However, the message said that local offices need to be contacted.
Sen. Kyl: Has also released a press statement, did not read it, asked me to check it on the senators webpage. Took my opinion though.
Sen. McConnell: He just wanted our comments and the sen himself did not have any comment regarding immigration.
Sen. Klobucher: Has not fully reviewed what was in the frame work, took our opinion on the matter, and the staff asked for the zipcode irrespective of where you were from.
Sen. McCaskill: Their office has no opinion on the bill. She is in general support of legal immigrants. However, she wanted to see how things progress in the senate.
Sen. Tester: He opposes amnesty. took our opinion but did not want to take a stand on high skilled immigrants issue
Sen. Webb: left a message
Sen. Whitehouse: has not reviewed the framework. took my opinion.

Called Sens. Reid, Durbin, Schumer, Leahy, Feinstein, Menendez and Cardin's offices and thanked them for their support and leadership.

[gc_peshwa]

I am done calling all listed republicans I thought they are the ones who mattered most as Dems are/will jump into the bandwagon sooner or later.
I am not sure if the senators will ever receive our heartfelt pleas and messages.I pray they do...
I felt like a lobbyist while calling their offices...only that I was lobbying with their staff to pass on the message..

Gist: Some of the staff members (I hope not Senators) THOUGHT CIR==AMNESTY for illegals and told me point blank Senator doesnt support CIR for the same reason. I explained to them CIR is not only about illegals and amnesty and that legal immigrants will be helped a lot. These GC applicants would become their voters in near future.

Here's the status for today

Graham - spoke to staff No position on bill yet
Gregg- spoke to staff member no position sounded like she is faking noting down details
Lugar - spoke to staff promised that Senator is very supportive of CIR left my details
Enzi- spoke to staff member does not support CIR left my details
Ensign-no position on it yet
Hatch-against amnesty left details
John Kyl-supports legal immigration left details
Cornyn-voicemail
McConnell-no position yet left details with his staff

Will run through rest of the list next week.
Thanks to IV. You guys are doing a great job!