Our statement on todays announcement: PICO National Network & PICO California Applaud Representative Denham for His Bold Leadership on Immigration Reform Faith Groups Will Team Up with Immigrant and Labor organizations to Reach Out to Thousands of Voters to Thank Rep. Denham for Co-sponsoring H.R. 15 PICO California and the PICO National Network issued the following statement in response to Congressman Denhams announcement to support H.R. 15. Today, Congressman Jeff Denham (CA-District 10) became the first Republican to add his name to the growing list of cosponsors of H.R. 15, which draws on ideas from both sides of the aisle, making the immigration reform legislation truly bipartisan. “We are thrilled Rep. Denham has proven his commitment to support an earned path to citizenship by signing onto H.R. 15, a real legislative solution to the devastating problem facing our communities, said Homero Mejia, Executive Director of Congregations Building Community. By adding his name to the bill’s growing list of cosponsors and demonstrating leadership in the House Republican Conference, Congressman Denham is taking a bold and courageous step towards making reform a reality for the 11 million aspiring Americans currently living in this country. “For months, our faith communities have been meeting with Rep. Denham and making their voices and their priorities heard, loud and clear. PICO California’s affiliate Congregations Building Community in Rep. Denham’s district, has marched, rallied, prayed, held meetings, hosted a Pilgrimage, and spent tireless hours reminding Congressman Denham about the urgency to pass immigration reform and what’s at stake for our families who suffer the consequences of a broken system. At two large public meetings that we organized with Rep. Denham, we asked him to show us his commitment to reform by turning his words into action, and today he did. Over the next month, we’ll be working to make sure that everyone in Congressional District 10 knows about his decision and thanks him for his leadership in making the dream of citizenship one-step closer to being attainable, said Mejia. “Now the spotlight is on the rest of the Republican caucus, and we urge them to follow Denham’s lead, said Eddie Carmona, Campaign Manager for the PICO National Networks Campaign for Citizenship. Our federations, and the broader immigration reform movement, will continue to escalate the pressure on House Republican leadership and key House Members to get behind H.R. 15 and to schedule a vote on citizenship. “Our families and faith communities have waited long enough for real reform, and with Rep. Denham’s support behind us, we’re more optimistic than ever about achieving our goal of citizenship this year.” On Monday, Congregations Building Community (CBC), a PICO California federation in Modesto, will join with immigrant and labor organizations to host a public thank you at Rep. Denham’s district office to commend for his leadership, to ask him to continue pushing his colleagues to call for a vote in 2013, and to announce plans for an unprecedented grassroots and paid media campaign to inform local residents about Rep. Denham’s decision to put his words into action by standing up for families. The Thank You campaign is being coordinated in partnership with immigration reform allies including AFL-CIO, Mi Familia Vota, SEIU, FIRM/Center for Community Change, Church World Service, and Alliance for Citizenship. ### PICO National Network is the largest grassroots, faith-based organizing network in the United States. PICO works with 1,200 religious congregations in more than 200 cities and towns through its 52 local and state federations. PICO and its federations are non-partisan and do not endorse or support candidates for office. PICO urges people of faith to consult their faith traditions for guidance on specific policies and legislation. Learn more at piconetwork.org.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 17:21:37 +0000
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