From your own research, what interest group did you find? Please list its name and website information.
The interest group chosen for this paper is American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU posts the relevant information on their website.
From your own research, list three important pieces of information that give us a picture of what your interest group believes.
The interest group believes in the freedom of speech, LGBT rights, and racial justice (American Civil Liberties Union). When writing about freedom of speech, the Union points out that the press, speech, petition, assembly need to be protected from censorship. The LGBT rights need protection because discrimination against them is still strong (American Civil Liberties Union). Racial justice is crucial because of institutional racism and other types of discrimination.
From your own research, describe a specific policy action your group desires.
The specific policy the group desires is the one that would not demand the participation of local law enforcement in the existing federal immigration priorities. As of today, the Administration threatened to defund jurisdictions that do not want to lead their practice toward federal immigration priorities (American Civil Liberties Union). The Union wants to provide a counter policy.
From your own research, whom does this group lobby most, or most effectively? For example, is there a political party or certain congressional representatives who seem to get more of its attention, money, or information? Which committees and subcommittees would it particularly lobby?
The Union provides information about congressional representatives and other authorities who are introduced as “influential lobbyists”: Devon Chaffee (international human rights), Kenneth Chandler (policy counsel), Sarah Lipton-Lubet (reproductive freedom), Jesselyn McCurdy (criminal justice issues), Dena Sher (separation of church and state), and Ian Thompson (civil rights) (American Civil Liberties Union). It is possibly evident that the Union’s views are more related to democrats rather than republicans (i.e., reproductive rights, LGBT rights, rights of immigrants, etc.). Although not stated on the website, the Union possibly lobbied former President Barack Obama and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The Union would lobby such committees as ethics, foreign affairs, education and the workforce, and science, space, and technology.
From your congress.gov research, what is the title of the legislation (include its origination or appropriate numbers)?
The piece of legislation found for this paper is the following: S.668 – A bill to nullify the effect of the recent Executive order regarding border security and immigration enforcement (The United States Congress). The bill was introduced on 03.15.2017 by Senator Thomas R. Carper from the Democratic Party.
From your congress.gov research, who are its key sponsors and their party affiliation?
There are twenty-six cosponsors of the bill, including Senator Michael F. Bennet, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Senator Al Franken, and others (The United States Congress). The bill was sponsored by 25 representatives of the Democratic Party and one independent representative.
From your congress.gov research, what is its current status within Congress?
The current status of the bill within the Congress is “introduced.” It was “read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary” (The United States Congress).
From your congress.gov research, describe briefly your personal reaction to this legislation. Do you think it will pass and do you think it should pass? Why?
It is unlikely that the legislation will pass. It would be good if it were able to pass. The new restrictions are threats to immigrants and their rights.
References
American Civil Liberties Union. (2017). Take action. Web.
Families USA. (2017). Key issues. Web.
The United States Congress. (2017). Legislations. Web.