Portal:Labor, Immigration and Retirement Policy (U.S.)/In the news


 * House Republicans successfully added an amendment to the housing bill through a "motion to recommit," making it more difficult for illegal immigrants to receive housing assistance.


 * The Senate's efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation looked destined for failure after a vote in the Senate to end debate on the legislation and move to a final vote did not pass on Jun. 28.


 * Arguing that they had fulfilled a promise to the electorate by raising the minimum wage, on Jun. 27 Democratic lawmakers in the House voted to raise congressional salaries for the following year by 2.7 percent.


 * The Employee Free Choice Act stalled in the Senate on Jun. 26 after a failed cloture vote of 51-48, divided closely along party lines.


 * The comprehensive immigration bill in the Senate was delayed again, due to continued debate over comprehensive energy legislation.


 * Senator John Kerry asked Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to refrain from deporting an illegal immigrant married to an Army Specialist missing in action in Iraq in mid June.


 * President Bush promised on Jun. 11 to lobby Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill to revive the failed comprehensive immigration bill upon his return from a visit to Europe.


 * Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said on Jun. 7 that he was willing to return to the failed comprehensive immigration bill if Senate Republicans can agree to a limited number of amendments and a limited time for debate.


 * The Senate's efforts to reach a "grand compromise" on comprehensive immigration legislation collapsed on Jun. 7 as a move to cut off debate on the bill fell 15 votes short. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) declared the Senate was done with addressing immigration "for the time being."


 * An amendment to the comprehensive immigration bill sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) failed in a 42-54 vote on Jun. 7. The amendment would demand that existing border security and immigration laws be enforced and included building a 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.


 * The Senate passed an amendment to the comprehensive immigration bill in a vote of 56-41 on Jun. 6. The amendment, offered by Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), would save American taxpayers up to $24 billion in the 10 years by preventing the earned income tax credit from being claimed by Y temporary workers or illegal aliens.


 * The Senate passed an amendment to the comprehensive immigration bill on Jun. 6 in a vote of 64-33. The amendment was sponsored by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and would declare English the official language of the United States.


 * The House passed the Employee Free Choice Act on Mar. 1, in a 241-185 vote that was largely divided along party lines. The bill would further protect workers against management threats as well as create an easier process for creating new unions.


 * The Senate voted on an amendment on Jan. 24 that would effectively remove the federal minimum wage. The amendment's sponsor was Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and failed in a 28-69 vote.


 * The house passed the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 in a vote of 315-116 on Jan. 10. The bill was sponsored by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) and would increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25.