The TedKennedy.com JournalSenate Passes Hate Crimes Bill, 60-39Thu Sep 27, 01:55 PM
From DemocraticMajority.com Today, Senators Edward Kennedy and Gordon Smith celebrated the passage of the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007. This legislation will ensure that all our citizens are guaranteed equal protection under the law, and will strengthen the ability of federal, state, and local government investigate and prosecute hate crimes based on race, ethnic background, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and gender identity. –Erie Meyer | Permalink STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON MASSACHUSETTS VOTE ON SAME SEX MARRIAGEThu Jun 14, 11:35 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement in response to the vote today by the Massachusetts legislature on same sex marriage. “The nation’s eyes were on Massachusetts today, and they saw a triumph for civil rights and fundamental fairness. Today’s historic vote will have a national impact on civil rights for years to come. Massachusetts has led the nation in education, in health care and in biotechnology, and today Massachusetts renewed its commitment as a proud leader in civil rights.” –Jill McCarthy | Permalink REMARKS OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON IMMIGRATION AGREEMENTThu May 17, 02:52 PM
ear after year we’ve had borders that aren’t secure and a system that is broken Year after year we’ve had people dying in the dessert because they want a better life for themselves and their families. Year after year we’ve had millions of people living in fear day after day – worrying that they could be deported like the hundreds of people were in New Bedford. –Jill McCarthy | Permalink STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF HATE CRIMES LEGISLATIONThu May 3, 01:25 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement in response to the House of Representatives passage of the Matthew Shepard hate crimes legislation. “I commend the House for its action on hate crimes, and for rejecting the Administration’s misguided attempt to block this legislation. No members of society – none – deserve to be victims of a violent crime because of their race, their religion, their ethnic background, their disability, their gender, their gender identity or their sexual orientation. It’s long past time for Congress to do more to prevent hate crimes and insist that they be fully prosecuted when they occur. The Senate bill we’ve introduced is supported by a broad coalition of over 210 law enforcement, civic, religious and civil rights groups. I look forward to quick action and to enactment of this important legislation.” –Jill McCarthy | Permalink KENNEDY RESPONSE TO BUSH’S CALL FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORMWed Mar 14, 05:52 PM
Washington DC: Today in Mexico President Bush reiterated his call for comprehensive immigration reform and referred to Senator Kennedy as the legislator who “can get the job done.” Senator Kennedy issued the following statement in response, explaining his plan to move legislation forward in Congress: –Jill McCarthy | Permalink “Making an example of New Bedford workers doesn't solve the problem”Wed Mar 14, 12:28 PM
On Sunday afternoon, in the basement of Our Lady of Guadalupe in New Bedford, I saw first-hand the pain and suffering of the families and community ripped apart by the actions of the Department of Homeland Security. In my 45 years of public life, this was one of the most heartbreaking scenes I have ever witnessed. Babies were screaming for their mothers. Wives were desperately searching for information about their husbands. One father tearfully described the agony and sleeplessness of his young children who couldn’t understand why their mother had disappeared. Shock, confusion and despair were the order of the day. –Jill McCarthy | Permalink GONZALES’S RESIGNATION IS LONG OVERDUEWed Mar 14, 12:26 PM
Washington, DC- Today Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement regarding Attorney General Gonzales’s comments on the firing of U.S. Attorneys. –Jill McCarthy | Permalink KENNEDY ON BUSH'S IMMIGRATION REMARKS IN MEXICOWed Mar 14, 12:25 PM
Washington, DC: Today in Mexico, President Bush said he would “work as hard as he possibly can to pass comprehensive immigration reform.” Senator Kennedy, chair of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, issued the following statement: –Jill McCarthy | Permalink KENNEDY: NOW IS THE TME FOR COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORMWed Feb 28, 09:26 AM
Washington, DC: Today Senator Edward M. Kennedy participated in the Senate Judiciary Hearing on Comprehensive Immigration Reform that included testimony from Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Secretary Michael Chertoff. Senator Kennedy and Senator McCain were the primary sponsors of comprehensive immigration reform that passed the Senate last year by 62-36. Senators McCain and Kennedy and Representatives Flake and Gutierrez are drafting new legislation that will be introduced in the coming weeks. –Jill McCarthy | Permalink STATEMENT BY SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN IMMIGRATION AND CITIZENSHIP FEESWed Jan 31, 01:25 PM
“This drastic increase will price the American Dream out of reach for qualified immigrants wanting to be citizens of our country. We must look to other solutions for funding the necessary work of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is currently fee funded. We are a nation of immigrants and Congress should recognize its responsibility to support the vital work of immigration services by appropriating the necessary funds.” –Jill McCarthy | Permalink STATEMENT BY SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAYSun Jan 14, 03:33 PM
–Tom Lopach | Permalink Senator Kennedy on the Ryan White CARE ActTue Dec 5, 12:08 PM
Washington, DC: Today Senator Kennedy announced that his proposal for the Ryan White Modernization Act has been accepted by the bipartisan negotiators, clearing the way for final passage this year. Kennedy’s proposal —which has ended the stalemate—would take the current reauthorization bill and limit to a three year reauthorization, in order to leave stable the care delivery systems while the structure of the program is truly re-vamped to reflect the disease of 2007. The bipartisan, bicameral bill reflects the balance of protecting our nation’s established systems of health care for those living with HIV and Aids and directing more resources to areas experiencing an increase in the disease. After two and a half years of negotiations, Kennedy is determined to reauthorize the bill this year. –Tom Lopach | Permalink Kennedy on Civil Rights Division OversightThu Nov 16, 10:36 AM
“A year from now, the nation will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Civil Rights Division. When Congress authorized the Division as part of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, it brought America closer to realizing its highest ideals—- the goal of liberty and justice for all. In the years that followed, the Division was at the forefront of the nation’s continuing struggle to guarantee equal justice for all Americans. It helped protect voting rights of African Americans who suffered discrimination. It worked to desegregate schools and universities. It opened doors of opportunity for women, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, persons with disabilities, and members of language minority groups. Much of the success in the past few decades has come from the Division’s genuine and sustained commitment to vigorously enforce the nation’s civil rights laws. There has been enormous progress, but civil rights is still the unfinished business of the nation. It’s extremely important for the Division to continue its strong commitment to equal opportunity and equal justice. That’s why so many of us are so very concerned about the direction of the Division in recent years.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy, Smith Condemn Lack of Action on Hate Crimes LegislationTue Oct 17, 02:24 PM
Today, responding to new 2006 hate crimes statistics, Senators Edward Kennedy and Gordon Smith criticized Congress for not taking swifter action to combat these vicious and senseless offenses. The release of the most current statistics on hate crimes confirms that hate crimes continue to be a serious problem plaguing our communities. According to a new report from the FBI, over 8,000 Americans were victims of hate crimes reported in 2005, and the percentage of crimes motivated by racial or religious bigotry continues to rise. (http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/hc2005/index.html – 2005 Hate Crime Report) The Smith-Kennedy bill passed the senate 65-33 in 2004 and the House passed a similar bill 223-199 in 2005, but still no final action has been taken. The bill would authorize critical funding to support state and local law investigations and prosecutions of these vicious and senseless offenses. It would also award grants to state and local programs to combat hate crimes by juveniles. Senator Kennedy said, “Everyday citizens are attacked because of their race, their ethnic background, their religion, their sexual orientation, or their disability. Clearly, we are not doing enough to protect our communities from these vicious crimes—- Congress can’t keep ignoring these serious crimes. Sadly, these statistics show only part of the problem, because so many hate crimes go unreported. Even more disappointing is the failure of many jurisdictions to participate in the FBI’s valuable effort to collect data on these crimes – yet the numbers show that these senseless crimes continue to plague our neighborhoods. With increasing concerns about community violence and diminishing federal funding, Congressional action is long overdue.” Hate crimes legislation is supported by a broad coalition of over 200 law enforcement and civil rights groups. including the National District Attorneys Association, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Anti-Defamation League, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Interfaith Alliance and the National Center for Victims of Crime. –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Voter IDWed Sep 27, 04:15 PM
Today, Senate and House Democrats denounced Congressional Republicans’ commitment to a voter identification requirement bill that would disproportionately impact the ability of minorities to vote. Senators Edward Kennedy, Christopher Dodd, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, House Democratic Caucus Chairman James Clyburn, and Congresswoman Linda Sánchez spoke about the negative effects of the voter I.D. requirement on American democracy and voters in their communities. Last week, House Republicans approved legislation that would place an undue burden on the voting rights of every American. The so called “Federal Election Integrity Act” (H.R. 4844) would require any individual who desires to register and vote in a federal election to purchase government-issued identification. Such a requirement could create a hardship on minority communities, the elderly, students, persons with disabilities, and members of various religious faiths. The burdensome and costly requirements of obtaining government documents not only could prevent many eligible voters from participating, but they also suggest to the American people that supporters of this legislation are trying to gain political advantage in future elections. Worst of all, this bill recalls a dark era in our nation when individuals were required to pay a poll tax to cast their ballot and has been termed a 21st Century poll tax. “Poll taxes are unfair, undemocratic, and unconstitutional,” Senator Kennedy said. “I fought hard when we tried to end poll taxes in 1965, and I’m not going to see the Senate enact them in 2006. I say we leave poll taxes in the last century where they belong.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink "There is Still Time in this Congress for Us to Enact a Tough but Fair Immigration Law"Tue Sep 26, 11:37 AM
“There is still time in this Congress for us to enact a tough but fair immigration law. These religious leaders know more than most that immigration reform is about our security, but it also must be about our humanity. There are few issues more basic to our faith than how we treat others – not just our fellow citizens, but immigrants as well,” Senator Kennedy said, “In the last year, I have seen again and again how people of faith have illuminated the moral issues that are at the heart of the immigration debate. They know that this debate should not be about politics but about people. ” Please click here to read Senator Kennedy’s remarks –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy: The Chairman's NSA Deal with the White House has Echoes of Blanket AuthorityThu Sep 7, 01:56 PM
Statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee “In 1978, President Carter signed the “Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act” into law, successfully ending years of debate on the power of the President to conduct surveillance on U.S. soil. The enactment of FISA was a recognition of Congress’s role in national security and a demonstration of what can be achieved through bipartisan and inter-branch cooperation. There was only one vote against the bill. In his signing statement, President Carter said, “the act helps to solidify the trust between the American people and their Government. It provides a basis of trust of the American people in the fact that the activities of their intelligence agencies are both effective and lawful.” We also had a signing statement that affirmed the President’s intent to comply with the law. Now, however, the situation is very different. Public trust in government is eroding, and serious constitutional doubts abound. –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Re-Nomination of Boyle, Myers, Haynes, and WallaceTue Sep 5, 10:18 AM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement: “These nominees may sit at the far right of the Republican Party, but they have no place on the federal bench. By renominating them, the Bush Administration and the Republican leadership in Congress are showing that they are more interested in kowtowing to the far right in an election year than in confirming mainstream judges to federal courts. Terrence Boyle has been overruled more than 150 times and violated basic ethical standards by deciding cases in which he had a financial interest. William Myers is a lobbyist for big mining companies who tried to roll back environmental protections. William Haynes was instrumental to the Administration’s shameful torture policy, Michael Wallace has a long record of hostility to basic civil rights and was rated unanimously “unqualified” by the American Bar Association. Our federal courts of appeal are the last stop before a case goes to the Supreme Court. These nominees don’t deserve life-time appointments to the courts of appeals, which decide cases every day that directly affect all Americans – cases involving children’s safety, workers’ rights, the environment, civil rights, and equal justice under the law. The White House should stop playing politics with the courts and choose mainstream judges who will follow the law, not a political agenda.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Closing of the IRS's Investigation of NAACPFri Sep 1, 01:15 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the end of the Internal Revenue Service’s investigation of the NAACP’s tax exempt status: “I’m pleased the Bush Administration has finally ended its baseless investigation into the tax exempt status of the NAACP, one of our nation’s oldest and most respected civil rights groups. No charitable organization should be singled out because of its opposition to administration policies.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Warrantless WiretappingThu Aug 17, 05:00 PM
“Law enforcement and intelligence officers must have strong powers to prevent and investigate terrorist attacks. Yet, once again, the Bush Administration has been sharply rebuked for making up its own rules this time to carry out warrantless surveillance of Americans. Our nation is safest when the President and Congress work together. By acting so cavalierly, the White House created a surveillance program that flunks the requirements of our laws and Constitution and leaves us at risk. There is a way to fight terrorism within the framework of the ruling law. Nearly thirty years ago, President Carter and Congress worked together to pass the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, which has served this nation well. By ignoring that law, the Administration took a path filled with legal uncertainty, putting employees of the National Security Agency at risk of criminal penalties and jeopardizing prosecutions of terrorists who may be able to successfully challenge the evidence against them. It’s not too late for President Bush to work with Congress, and it’s vital to our national security that he does so.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Nomination of Peter Keisler to D.C. CircuitTue Aug 1, 02:29 PM
“Mr. Chairman, I’m concerned that the Committee is proceeding with undue haste on the nomination of Mr. Keisler. There are important unresolved matters that we should consider before we reach a decision. First, is the issue we raised in the letter we sent you last week, urging the Committee to examine the need to fill the 11th or 12th judgeships on the D.C. Circuit. Republican members of this Committee strongly opposed attempts by the Clinton Administration to fill the 11th seat and they were successful in blocking well-qualified nominees. They argued that the court did not have enough cases to justify that number of judges. Since then, the number of written opinions issued by the court has declined by 17%. The number of cases resolved on the merits per judge is down 21%, and the number of cases filed per judge is down 10%. We should consider these caseload declines carefully before we fill the current vacancy. American taxpayers deserve no less.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink "Roberts and Alito Misled Us"Sun Jul 30, 10:44 AM
“At a time when great legal issues are being decided by the slimmest of margins, we cannot afford to learn nominees’ views only after they have obtained lifetime tenure on our highest court. Instead, the Judiciary Committee, the Senate and the American Bar Association need to work together to return to an honest confirmation process. I support reform despite my belief that the next justice will be nominated by a Democratic president and be sent to a Democratic Senate for confirmation. The discussion should start with a few truths. First, any qualified nominee to the Supreme Court will have spent many years thinking about legal issues. We should require that nominees share that thinking with the Judiciary Committee, and not pretend that such candor is tantamount to prejudging specific cases. In particular, the Senate should have the same access to the nominee’s writings as the administration. Second, the Judiciary Committee will need to reorganize the way it asks questions. An in-depth inquiry will require something more than short rounds of questions that pass from senator to senator. Third, we need to remember what this process is all about. It is good to hear that a nominee has a loving family, faithful friends and a sense of humor. It is important to know that nominees possess the intellect, life experience and discipline that make a good judge. But it is essential that we learn enough of their legal views to be certain that they will make good on the simple promise etched in marble outside the Supreme Court: “Equal Justice Under Law.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Holmes Nomination to the U.S. Court of AppealsTue Jul 25, 10:23 AM
“The Senate’s exercise of its advice and consent power when it considers nominees to the federal bench is one of our most important constitutional responsibilities. We are conferring on men and women the power to interpret and apply our laws for the rest of their lives. It is the last opportunity that any of us have to sit in judgment of them. The record of Jerome Holmes demonstrates that he is not a nominee we can afford to entrust with the judicial power of the United States. His professional qualifications are not in dispute, but he has taken extreme public stances on issues that regularly come before our courts. These stances suggest that he will not approach these issues with an open mind or fairly apply the law in these areas. The Senate has supported the overwhelming majority of the President Bush’s judicial nominees. I’ve voted for the confirmation of dozens of judges with whom I have ideological differences. However, the nomination of Jerome Holmes is different. I do not believe that he will serve on the federal bench with a fair and open mind. I therefore cannot support the confirmation of Jerome Holmes to the Tenth Circuit, and I urge the Senate to oppose him.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Passage of Historic Voting Rights ActThu Jul 20, 04:24 PM
 Senator Kennedy and Congressman Lewis Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the passage of the Voting Rights Reauthorization Act. The VRA passed the Senate with a vote of 98 to 0. Today, we renew our commitment to the fundamental values of America. An election is the most important event in our democracy, and today we reaffirmed that every citizen should have an equal voice on Election Day. There is nothing more American than voting, and every American should have the right to vote. In this age of partisan politics and heated campaigns, it’s more important than ever for our citizens to have a clear voice in the nation’s future – and that’s what we have assured today. As we all know, there’s been a revolution in civil rights since the 1960’s, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a major part of it. I’ve been proud to be part of the great battles in Congress from the beginning, and we’ve been vigilant to protect the Voting Rights Act ever since. I recall watching President Lyndon Baines Johnson sign the 1965 Act just off the chamber of the Senate. We knew that day we had changed the country forever and indeed we had. In 1965 there were only 3 African American and 3 Latino members of Congress. Today there are 41 African-American members in the House, one African American Senator, 22 Latino House members and These gains would not have been possible without the Voting Rights Act. With passage of this bill, our work does not end – it continues. Again and again, we hear reports of shameful tactics to deny certain Americans the right to vote. There was discrimination against Latinos in Texas which led to the Supreme Court’s recent decision in LULAC v. Perry. And a federal court in Georgia has now had to strike down twice Georgia’s discriminatory efforts to require that voters produce a photo i.d. The first time, the court found that the law was an unconstitutional poll tax. A poll tax in 2006! The second time, he found that the law made it less likely that minorities and the poor would vote. We must be certain that the Voting Rights Act is enforced in every voting precinct in the land. At the heart of this issue is basic fairness. The nation must ensure that discrimination and its bitter legacy do not close the polls to any citizen. This landmark bill ensures that all our citizens will have the right to play an effective role in our governance. It continues us down the path toward a democracy free of the blight of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and language. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “The time is always right to do what is right.” Today the Senate did the right thing. –Tristan Takos | Permalink "The Time Has Come to Renew the Voting Rights Act"Thu Jul 20, 11:47 AM
Remarks by Senator Edward M. Kennedy as the Senate prepares to pass historic Voting Rights Act reauthorization “Mr. President, the time has come to renew the Voting Rights Act. This historic piece of legislation renews our commitment to the fundamental values of America. It ensures that all of our citizens will have the right to play an effective role in our governance. It continues us down the path toward a democracy free of the blight of discrimination based on race, ethnicity and language. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said: “The time is always right to do what is right.” The right thing to do is to pass this bill and the time to do it is now.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy Statement at Judiciary Meeting on Voting Rights ActWed Jul 19, 02:03 PM
“I commend Chairman Specter for calling this special session. It demonstrates his commitment to voting this bill out of committee and to the floor today or tomorrow. Chairman Specter announced yesterday that Majority Leader Frist is prepared to move the bill to the floor this week, so I hope we can vote this bill out today. The Fifteenth Amendment gave everyone the right to vote, but it was not until we passed the Voting Rights Act in 1965 that the right started to become reality in many parts of the country. Because there was still work to do, we renewed the special provisions of the Act in 1970, 1975, and 1982. And in 1975, 1982 and 1992, we amended the Act to strengthen its guarantees. Now after months of hearings in the House and Senate, we have built a strong record for a further extension. The record shows progress, but it also presents compelling evidence for the Act’s renewal. It highlights both current acts of overt discrimination in voting and more subtle practices that have been used to block access to voting in recent years. The inescapable conclusion is that we must reauthorize the Act and we should do it now. The amendments offered would weaken the Act’s protections for this most fundamental of all our rights. I urge my colleagues to defeat these amendments and pass a clean bill.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy Statement at NAACP Annual ConventionWed Jul 19, 10:00 AM
“It’s an honor to join you at the 97th Convention as you continue the NAACP’s historic fight for fairness and equality. Since its founding in 1909, under the guidance of great leaders like W.E.B. DuBois, the NAACP has played a key role in enabling that the nation live up to its highest ideals of fairness, justice, and opportunity for all. Laws enacted because of many of you in this room have brought greater equality for racial and ethnic minorities. The workplace is more open and the ballot box is more accessible because of the NAACP. With leaders like Chairman Julian Bond, President and CEO Bruce Gordon, and Hilary Shelton from the Washington Bureau, the NAACP continues to lead the way. As we all know, the battle for racial equality in America is far from over. The landmark national laws of the past four decades have provided a foundation, but the full promise of these laws has yet to be fulfilled. Literacy tests and poll taxes no longer block access to the ballot box, but we cannot ignore the fact that discrimination is sometimes as plain as ever, and that more subtle forms of discrimination are plotted in back rooms and imposed by manipulating redistricting boundaries to dilute minority voting or by systematic strategies on election day to discourage minority voting.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink "We Need to Stand Up for our Well-Established Legal Traditions and Values"Wed Jul 19, 09:23 AM
Statement by Senator Edward M. Kennedy at Senate Hamdan Hearing “Our Constitution lays out a careful system of checks and balances. That reflects our respect for the rule of law and the founding principles of fairness and justice. In Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, the Supreme Court clearly upheld the principles. It said, in essence, that the President could not make up the rules as he went along, but must consult with Congress – the people’s branch—in the war on terror. As Justice Breyer wrote, “Congress has not issued the executive a blank check.” We need to stand up for our well-established legal traditions and values. We need to ensure that the procedural rules are developed through the regular process, both here in Congress, and within the executive branch. We have wasted enough time on untested legal theories and legal appeals. This time the system must be beyond reproach. The Constitution and our national security are served badly by anything less.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy Statement on Bush's NAACP AddressTue Jul 18, 03:32 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on President Bush’s address at the NAACP annual convention: “As President Bush addresses the NAACP and the nation tomorrow, I urge him to state unequivocally that he supports the bill to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act passed last week in the House of Representatives and that he opposes any amendments. The Act protects one of the most basic rights in our democratic society—the right to vote—- which Martin Luther King called “civil right number one.” Unfortunately when I asked Attorney General Gonzales for the Administration’s support, he said that he was not prepared at the time to make that commitment. The issue of Voting Rights transcends party lines, as is clear from the bipartisan support for the bill to guarantee that the right to vote is not denied to any American because of race, national origin or proficiency in English. The bill deserves the full support of this Administration.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink "The President Does Not Have a Blank Check on Matters of National Security"Tue Jul 18, 09:05 AM
Statement by Senator Edward M. Kennedy at Oversight Hearing with Attorney General Gonzales “When it comes to national security, our country is far stronger when the government stands united. We all agree on the need for law enforcement and intelligence officers to have strong powers to investigate terrorism, to prevent future attacks, and improve information-sharing between federal, state and local law enforcement. This is not a question of party or politics. It is a question of national security, and we should all come together to meet our obligations and protect the safety and security of the United States. Americans deserve national security laws that protect both our security and our constitutional rights, and we have not yet achieved the goal set by the 9/11 Commissioners: to adopt governmental powers that truly enhance our national security while ensuring adequate oversight over their use. For the past five years, Congress has stood ready to work with the President to give him the necessary tools to protect America. In fact, the Congress has worked with the President on the PATRIOT Act and many other important measures to strengthen our national security laws. However, through a rampant series of leaks, we find out that this Administration has pursued many secret programs and pursued a solitary path that rides roughshod over the historic legal standards that have made this country great.” Kennedy Joins Leading Civil Rights Activists on Voting Rights Act Reauthorization as House VotesThu Jul 13, 03:18 PM
–Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Hamdan HearingThu Jul 13, 10:02 AM
Statement on Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing on Military Commissions “The heart of the problem is that the Administration attempted to hold trials for the detainees in courts that the Supreme Court rightly rejected as an unconstitutional abuse of power, since they did not guarantee the basic procedural protections needed to provide a fair trial or achieve an accurate verdict. Now Congress’ work begins anew. The path ahead will speak volumes about our dedication to the rule of law and the Constitution – and it will have significant consequences for our national security. If our actions are consistent with our nation’s long-held values, then perhaps this outrageous chapter will finally come to an end.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Pentagon Announces it will Follow Geneva Convention Guidelines on DetaineesTue Jul 11, 03:31 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the Pentagon’s announcement that it will follow the Geneva Convention guidelines on detainees: “Finally, after years of outcry, the Administration has acknowledged that it will treat detainees with basic decency and comply with the Geneva Conventions. This dramatic policy reversal, assuming it’s implemented in good faith, is the first step to restoring America as a beacon for human rights and our ability to insist that our own soldiers are treated humanely. Now, after 5 years of delay, we must ensure that there is accountability and swift justice for terrorists.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Haynes NominationTue Jul 11, 02:20 PM
Statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee “The nomination of Mr. Haynes to the Fourth Circuit is as embarrassing as any that has ever come before this Committee. His record clearly shows a deplorable lack of commitment to fundamental rights and the principle of separation of powers that we all expect from the federal courts. Former Chief Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Rear Admiral John D. Hutson, has said that ”[i]f civilian leadership of the military means anything at all, it must mean there is accountability for failures such as his.” If we aren’t going to hold Mr. Haynes accountable, let us at least deny him a promotion to a lifetime seat on the federal bench. I urge my colleagues to reject this nomination.” Following today’s Judiciary Committee on the controversial judicial nomination of William J. Haynes, Senators Kennedy and Feinstein sent the following letter calling for more hearings so that the Committee can hear testimony from the twenty high-ranking former military leaders who have spoken out against his confirmation. The Senators contend that when a nominee to high judicial or executive office has been alleged to have engaged in serious and disqualifying activities, hearings should be extended, as they have in the past, and witnesses with first-hand knowledge of the facts should be invited to appear. Click here to read the letter from Senators Kennedy and Feinstein –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Hamdan V. RumsfeldTue Jul 11, 10:41 AM
Statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee “The tribunals and commissions at Guantanamo are fundamentally unfair and do not give the detainees a genuine opportunity to have the validity of their detention decided. We’ve locked people away for years, without creating an adequate process to distinguish who belongs in detention and who should be released. Detainees have been held for year after year under inhumane conditions, and we’ve failed to provide an effective way to determine whether they’re guilty of anything. Those the Administration sought to convict of particular offenses were subjected to trial by kangaroo courts that the Supreme Court rightly rejected as an unconstitutional abuse of power. The Administration sought to create a place that was literally beyond the law – beyond judicial review, beyond the Geneva Conventions, beyond our sense of right and wrong. Perhaps now, endless detention without safeguards will finally be corrected. We can end the abuses but it will be far more difficult to restore our reputation in the world.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Supreme Court Decision on HamdanThu Jun 29, 10:59 AM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement: “This decision is a stunning repudiation of the Bush Administration’s lawless behavior at Guantanamo. As we approach the Fourth of July, it is entirely appropriate that the Supreme Court has reminded the President and Secretary Rumsfeld that there is no excuse for ignoring the rule of law, even when our country is at war.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Texas Redistricting CaseWed Jun 28, 05:18 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the Texas redistricting case: “The Supreme Court had to act here only because the Bush Administration rejected the advice of career attorneys in the Justice Department, who long ago concluded that this redistricting plan violated the Voting Rights Act. This case is further proof that the Voting Rights Act and a commitment to its enforcement are essential to make certain that all voters, regardless of their race or ethnic background, have an equal opportunity to participate in the elections.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink "The Bill of Rights is Our Nation's Greatest Accomplishment"Tue Jun 27, 04:19 PM
“The Bill of Rights is our nation’s greatest accomplishment. It has been our great fortress against the passions and politics of every era. It has been our great beacon to the rest of the world, demonstrating that we value our liberty more deeply than power or riches. It has seen us through Civil War and two world wars; through expansion from sea to sea and from earth to the moon. And it is fitting that such a document, which describes the rights inherent to a free people, has not been amended – not once – in its entire 217 years. We are told today that we must amend the Bill of Rights in order to prevent flag burning. James Madison and the rest of our Founding Fathers would have laughed at this notion. They believed that the freedom to speak and protest was a God-given, inalienable right – not a privilege that should give way to the passions of the time. The Founders had a strong faith that the nation they were creating could be based on bold principles and still survive the test of time. Today, we know it can. The past 217 years have proved that we can survive civil wars and world wars, fascism, communism, economic collapse and all manner of civil strife – all without diluting the Bill of Rights. We might be forgiven for focusing on this small problem if we were not inundated with great ones.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Constitutional Flag Burning AmendmentMon Jun 26, 03:32 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the Senate debate regarding a constitutional ban on flag burning:
Kennedy on Delay in Voting Rights Act VoteThu Jun 22, 05:48 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the delay in the Voting Rights Act vote: “Yesterday’s decision by the House leadership to delay a vote on reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act shouldn’t affect our work on the bill in the Senate. The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill nearly unanimously in committee, and it is time for the Senate Judiciary Committee to act as well. Chairman Specter has said that we will act on the bill next week, so that the full Senate will have an opportunity to consider it after the July 4th recess. The House delay was caused by last-minute concerns over the bilingual ballot provisions in Section 203 of the current Act, which enables all American citizens to participate fully in our democracy even if they have not yet mastered the English language. It’s difficult to believe that House Republicans want to start penalizing Puerto Ricans, Native Americans, and Alaskan natives at the ballot box. We shouldn’t penalize naturalized citizens who’ve come to this country to pursue opportunity and live the promise of democracy, and they’re no less worthy than any other citizen to exercise their right to vote. Naturalized Americans understand the importance of learning English, and all of them have done so on a basic level as part of the citizenship process. Understanding voting instructions and the often complex language of ballot provisions requires more than a basic grasp of English. It’s wrong to punish American citizens by denying them full voting rights until they master the English language. If we’re sincere about the melting pot, there’s no better way to achieve it than through the ballot box, and Section 203 helps make it possible.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Statement of Senator Kennedy at Voting Rights Act Reauthorization HearingWed Jun 21, 05:45 PM
“I commend Senator Specter and Senator Brownback for their efforts to bring the hearings on reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act to a conclusion. It was important to take the time to build a strong record for reauthorizing this Act, and we’ve done that.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Call for More Immigration HearingsTue Jun 20, 02:06 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the Republican House Leadership calling for more immigration hearings: “This is clearly a delay tactic by the House Republicans who have been dead set against comprehensive reform from the beginning. We face an immigration crisis and we need prompt and comprehensive action to address it – not more hearings. We know what the problem is. We know how to fix it. The American people are demanding a new direction. So for the good of the country, let’s act.” –Tristan Takos | Permalink Kennedy on Flag Burning AmendmentThu Jun 15, 10:40 AM
“For two centuries, the Bill of Rights has stood as a guarantee of people’s basic rights and freedoms. The First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech, is the centerpiece of those protections. Never in American history has Congress amended the Bill of Rights. It certainly has never limited the protections of the First Amendment, and now is no time to start. This amendment would send the message to future generations that speech is protected only when Government does not find it offensive or disagreeable. This amendment would politicize our Constitution and punch a hole in the First Amendment—all to prohibit an act that is exceedingly rare. We know there are pressing issues that deserve the Senate’s attention—the war in Iraq, dangers to national security, soaring health care costs, and the upcoming hurricane season—these are all issues we need to act on to protect the American people. Now is no time to start undermining their rights and freedoms.” "Voting is a Fundamental Right"Tue Jun 13, 08:57 AM
Transcript of Senator Kennedy’s Remarks Before the Senate Judiciary Committee “We all understand that English is the common and unifying language of the United States. Becoming proficient in English is important to becoming part of American society and pursuing the American dream. There’s no disagreement here. We also all understand that voting is a fundamental right. It’s the right from which all other rights derive. Again, there is no disagreement among us on this point. But we must also understand that not all citizens of the United States know English well enough to participate in an English-only election. Without bilingual ballots and assistance at the polls, there are millions of our fellow citizens who would be unable to vote effectively. These include many native-born American citizens, who because of poverty and unequal educational opportunities have high rates of illiteracy and limited English proficiency. We owe it to these Americans to provide them the help they need to cast their votes.” The Defeat of FMAWed Jun 7, 01:21 PM
“In 2004, we defeated attempts to force this extreme agenda into the Constitution. Now, we’ve done it again and it’s time for the U.S. Senate to get back to the real business of the nation. It’s disappointing and frustrating that the Senate allowed this agenda to come ahead of so many other higher priorities that need to be addressed.
I’m proud that Massachusetts continues to be a leader on marriage equality. Being part of a family is a basic right, and I look forward to the day when every state accepts this basic principle of fairness. Marriage is a solemn commitment to plan a future together, to share in life’s celebrations, to be there as a source of comfort and support to ease life’s burdens and pains. This week’s debate in the Senate affects real families with real-life struggles. When the citizens of a state have decided to recognize those families—through their state constitution or state laws—the Senate has no business undermining their personal, private decisions. It’s wrong to try to turn back the clock on the progress we’ve made in guaranteeing civil rights for all our people. That progress has been achieved at great cost and sacrifice, and we must not retreat. The Constitution has never been amended to discriminate any American, and now is no time to start.” The Federal Marriage AmendmentTue Jun 6, 04:18 PM
“It’s no surprise that the American people are frustrated with the Republican Senate these days. They deserve and want action on the enormous challenges we face as a nation – the endless and costly war in Iraq, the many dangers to our national security, skyrocketing gas prices, soaring health-care costs, the upcoming hurricane season. How we can have safer schools and better care for our children, and so many other urgent issues. But instead of dealing with these real priorities, the Senate Republican leadership is asking us to spend time writing bigotry into the Constitution. Why aren’t we taking up the Defense Authorization Bill, which is so vital to our national security? It provides the authorization for the salaries for our troops in the field, including a 2.2% pay raise. It provides urgently needed equipment for our troops to carry out their missions in humvees with safer body armor. It authorizes the food and supplies our troops need in Iraq and Afghanistan. It contains funds to care for those who are injured or wounded, or who may be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when they come home. But the Republican leadership of the Senate has told us that supporting our troops has to wait. Let’s be clear about what this debate is really about. It’s a blatant effort to deny some members of our society the right to receive the same benefits and protections that married couples now have. Like this Senate’s intrusion into the Terry Schiavo case, it is a cynical attempt to score political points by overriding state courts and intruding into individuals’ private lives and most personal decisions. It’s the politics of prejudice and division at its worst.” Kennedy Responds To Bush's Border SpeechTue Jun 6, 02:45 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on President Bush’s immigration speech at the border: “Today the President continued the call for comprehensive immigration reform and I applaud his determination to fix our broken system. The bipartisan Senate reform plan will strengthen our national security, protect our borders better, and crack down harder on smugglers and employers who break the law. The President understands that our plan is even tougher and more effective than the House bill because not only does it include these strong enforcement provisions but it will also break the cycle of illegality by creating pathways to earned citizenship. We know that an enforcement-only approach to solving our immigration problems may make a good campaign slogan. But in reality, it’s a failed strategy that threatens our security and threatens American wages. To truly strengthen our national security we must enact a common sense plan that includes earned citizenship for those who are here, a temporary worker program for the future, and enhanced enforcement.” Below is a list of the ways the McCain-Kennedy Senate immigration bill strengthens our borders: –Crystal Patterson | Permalink GOP Says "I Do" To BigotryMon Jun 5, 09:11 AM
“It’s no wonder that the American people are frustrated with the Republican Congress. Americans deserve progress, but instead are bombarded with politics driven by fear and division. They deserve action on the challenges we face as a nation – an endless and costly war in Iraq, skyrocketing gas prices and soaring health-care costs. Rather than dealing with real priorities, the Republican leadership is focused on writing discrimination into the Constitution.” Kennedy on the Prison Rape Elimination ActThu Jun 1, 02:47 PM
“With the Prison Rape Elimination Act, Congress made a bipartisan commitment to do more to deal with the long-ignored epidemic of rape and sexual abuse in the nation’s prisons. As those here today know well, with over two million prisoners now incarcerated nationwide, one in ten will be a victim of rape. Given these sobering numbers – and a greater push in Congress to treat juveniles as adults – we need a clear strategy to confront the problems before us and to give hope to those already in the system. Congress needs input from the Commission on next steps. We know we have a responsibility to protect the incarcerated from such vile and predatory acts. The nearly 100,000 children who make up the juvenile prison population are possibly the most vulnerable and defenseless group in our criminal justice system, and too often, we fail to protect them. As two survivors testified so courageously this morning, juvenile facilities are regularly the site of shocking physical and mental abuse.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Kennedy, UPS Award Grant to Partners for Youth with DisabilitiesThu Jun 1, 08:54 AM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy joined employees of United Parcel Service and The UPS Foundation in the awarding of a $25,000 grant to support the extraordinary work of Partners for Youth with Disabilities in expanding their mentoring program. Senator Kennedy has worked tirelessly on behalf of people with disabilities knocking down walls of discrimination, including authoring the Americans with Disabilities Act. A non- profit organization dedicated to empowering young people with disabilities to reach their full potential, Partners for Youth with Disabilities has served as a statewide and nationwide model for developing one-on-one mentoring programs. Senator Kennedy met with UPS employees, Partners for Youth with Disabilities members and also with individuals who will directly benefit from this award. The UPS Foundation was created in 1951 to champion innovative solutions to social problems ranging from hunger to literacy to volunteerism. –Crystal Patterson | Permalink On the Judicial Nomination of Brett KavanaughFri May 26, 08:52 AM
“Mr. Kavanaugh blatantly lacks the broad legal experience that is the hallmark of federal judges—particularly those at the highest levels. He has never tried a case to verdict or to judgment. In fact, Mr. Kavanaugh has only practiced law for ten years. Even counting his time as a law clerk, he still has only half of the average legal experience of nominees to the D.C. Circuit. To put this in context, Mr. Kavanaugh would be the least experienced member of the D.C. Circuit in almost a quarter century. His lack of experience is underscored by his responses to questions from Judiciary Committee members. When he was asked to name his ten most significant cases, Mr. Kavanaugh could only cite five cases for which he actually appeared in court, and only two cases in which he was lead counsel. He even cited two cases for which he merely wrote a friend-of-the-court brief for someone who was not a party to the lawsuit. I am not alone in my judgment that Mr. Kavanaugh is not qualified for this position. Aside from my seven colleagues on the Judiciary Committee who voted against his appointment, organizations from around the country are united in their opposition to his nomination. The AFL-CIO, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the NAACP, the National Urban League, the United Auto Workers…the list reads like a who’s who of citizen representatives.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Moving Forward on Fair ImmigrationThu May 25, 05:55 PM
The Senate passed landmark immigration legislation today, approving a plan that will improve border security while providing a pathway to legalization for the millions of immigrants already in the United States. Senate OKs Immigration Bill 62 to 36 – The L.A. Times “The Senate, closing one round of acrimonious debate but setting the stage for another, passed legislation today that would both tighten the borders to new immigrants and provide procedures for the 12 million foreigners already living in this country illegally to gain legal status. The bill would also authorize a guest worker program by which foreigners could work temporarily in this country. The vote was 62 to 36. The bill now goes to a committee of House and Senate members, who will try to forge a compromise between the Senate legislation and a much more punitive bill approved by the House in December.” Senator Kennedy on the bill’s passage (full remarks after the jump): “”When Oscar Handlin, the Harvard historian, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1952 for his history of immigration “The Uprooted,” he said he had set out to write a history of immigrants in America, but “discovered that the immigrants were America.” With passage of this legislation, we reclaim that America. We lift once again the lamp beside the golden door. This is the most far-reaching immigration reform in our history. It is a comprehensive and realistic attempt to solve the real-world problems that have festered for too long in our broken immigration system. It strengthens our security and reflects our humanity. It is intended to keep out those who would harm us and welcome those who contribute to our country. It has the potential to build a stronger, better, fairer America for the 21st century.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink The Diversity Visa ProgramWed May 24, 12:34 PM
“I understand the thinking behind the Gregg Amendment, and there are few people in this chamber who have been more consistent supporters of high-skilled immigration than have I continue to support high-skilled migration, and the original McCain-Kennedy bill doubled the numerical limits on high-skilled employment-based migration. I also supported additional changes in the Judiciary Committee to increase H-1B visa limits and to make it easier for H-1B immigrants to adjust to permanent status. But the Diversity Visa Program serves a wholly different purpose. The purpose of the Diversity is not just to advance narrow economic interests, but rather to preserve our very heritage as a nation of immigrants and a true melting pot. Unlike other visa categories, the diversity visa is not about who you know, or to whom you are related. It is a totally unique program because anyone with a high school degree or two years of meaningful work experience can apply. Without the Diversity Visa Program, our family- and employment-based immigration system would ensure that virtually all immigrants to the United States would come from just a small handful of states. The Diversity program ensures that America continues to be a beacon to the entire world, and not just to a dozen or so countries with high numbers of immigrants already living here.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink The McConnell Amendment: Unconstitutional Violation of Voting RightsWed May 24, 10:36 AM
“This measure reaches the essence of our democracy: the right to vote. Now is not the time and this is not the place to consider an amendment that may disenfranchise a million or more poor, minority, disabled, and elderly voters—all of them American citizens. We should not be taking action on an immigration bill that is going to have an impact on 120 million Americans and we certainly shouldn’t be doing that in the fifty minutes before the cloture vote. Now is not the time. If this measure becomes law every American citizen seeking to vote in a federal election will have to acquire new identification that meets the heightened requirements of the REAL ID Act of 2005. The change will disproportionately affect blacks, Hispanics, those with disabilities, and the elderly. Voters of color are less likely to own motor vehicles and thus less likely to have the need to obtain a driver’s license or the means to travel to acquire one. Nationally, African-Americans are three times as likely as whites to lack access to a motor vehicle; Hispanics are over two times as likely to lack access to a motor vehicle. Nationally, both African-Americans and Hispanics are almost three times as likely as whites to live in poverty and therefore lack the means to pay to obtain the required identification. Persons with disabilities and the elderly are also highly likely to experience physical difficulties in traveling to DMV offices to acquire new identification. The amendment is unconstitutional, under both the 5th Amendment Equal Protection Clause and the 24th Amendment.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink "The Statue of Liberty Has Turned Around Tonight"Fri May 19, 03:16 PM
Transcript of Senator Kennedy’s Remarks on the Cornyn Amendment on Immigration “Now, under the current immigration law, if you have an H1B visa that means you you’re highly skilled. So if you’re highly skilled, your employer can get the green card for you. But under the Cornyn amendment, if you’re low skill, you’re out. One set of treatment for the very highly educated, highly skilled that are working on the computers, but if you’re cleaning a building in America, if you’re working in menial jobs, if you’re looking after children, if you have one of the lower-paid jobs, you’re out of luck. Really, a nice—a nice, fair standard, nice, fair standard. The Statue of Liberty has turned around tonight listening to the argument of our friends over here. Turned around. One standard for high skilled and, boy, if you’re doing the more menial work, which we know other Americans are not prepared to do, you’re out, you’re finished, you’re gone. No chance at all. Work for six years. And then maybe they’ll go out, leave the country or maybe they’ll stay in. If they stay in, they’ll be part of a subclass. Do you hear me? A sub-class here in the United States of America. That is what we are trying to avoid in the basic immigration bill. We emphasize legality. Legality in coming in as guest workers, part of the legal system. Legality in terms of employment. You can only employ those that come in here in which there’s not an American job. But there’s also opportunity. We respect those individuals that do menial jobs because after the four years that they are here, they’re able, if there isn’t going to be an American to do a job, they could petition. And if they meet all the other requirements, they learn English, they obey the laws, they can be part of the American dream. If the Cornyn amendment applied to our immigration laws 150 years ago, no Irish need apply, no Polish need apply, no Italians need apply, no Jews need apply. But tonight we’re saying no Hispanics primarily need apply, because those are the ones. Sure, it’s 85%. the rest 5% or 6% Asian. You can figure out, the others in Central America. But that is what the Senate tonight is confronted with. This undermines the whole purpose of the bill. It brings in illegality again. It says that your employer hires this person, they work for six years, the employer might have trained him, given him decent skills and, bang, you’re either part of the subclass or you’re reporting to deport. Those were wonderful words “”report to deport.”” We’ll know who those individuals are, the homeland security and then as soon as that time is up six times, they’ll get picked up and either pushed over or—and pushed out of the country or they’ll be in an spurned class—a permanent underclass—in an underclass, a permanent underclass. Mr. president, this is probably a very nice amendment that goes over in some circles. But I will tell you, if we’re talking about fairness in this country, if you’re talking about fairness in the immigration bill, you’re talking about fairness in the standards, you’re talking about the history—fairness in the standards, you’re talking about the history and the fairness in this country about welcoming the poor and the unwashed in our country, you’re changing that with the Cornyn amendment. Make no mistake about it, you’re changing that. I was around here during the Bresaro period and the exploitation of humanity was—was extraordinary. And we are returning to it if we accept the Cornyn amendment. We’re saying because you do more menial jobs, your life, your worth, your being is not as—not worth as much as somebody who’s a highly skilled person. That’s a wonderful statement for the United States of America to make. And do you know what’s going to happen? Those individuals are going to be exploited. If they’re women, they’re going to be abused. You can have sexual harassment and abuse for them. That’s the record. That—read the history of the Bresaro. I went to the hearings; I attended the hearings all during the Southwest and into California – one of the most shameful, shameful periods in American history. Go back to it tonight. That’s what this amendment is all about. It strikes a dagger at the heart of what this legislation is about: strict enforcement, strict accountability, strict legality if people are going to play by the rules and earn their way and be a part of the American dream.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Opposing the Ban on Same Sex MarriageThu May 18, 09:54 AM
“It’s no wonder that polls these days show public support for the Republican Senate is in the ditch. Instead of dealing with the real challenges facing the nation, the Republican Leadership insists on pandering to its far-right wing by this misguided proposal to deny some members of our society the right to marry and receive the same benefits and protections that married couples now have. This so-called Federal Marriage Amendment should really be called the Republican Right Wing Anti-Marriage Amendment. A vote for it is a vote against civil unions, domestic partnerships, and other efforts by states to treat gays and lesbians fairly under the law. It’s a vote to impose discrimination on all 50 states, and deny them their right to interpret their own state constitutions and state laws. A vote for this amendment is a vote for bigotry – pure and simple. It makes no sense for the first time in our history, to amend the Constitution by writing discrimination back into it. The proposed Amendment is inconsistent with our basic values. The Constitution is the foundation of our democracy and the enduring principles of our nation. We’ve amended the Constitution only seventeen times since the adoption of the Bill of Rights. Aside from the Amendment on Prohibition, which was quickly recognized as a mistake and repealed thirteen years later, the Constitution has only been amended to expand and protect people’s rights, not to take away or restrict those rights. The Senate should be addressing the real problems facing our country. Instead of writing bigotry and prejudice into the Constitution, we should be dealing with the issues of war and peace, jobs and the economy, the crisis over energy, and the many other priorities facing the country. It’s wrong for the Republican leadership to try to write its agenda of hate into the Constitution. I urge the committee to oppose this disgraceful and unseemly amendment.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Kennedy on Self-Petitioning for ImmigrantsThu May 18, 08:38 AM
“If we take away the right to self-petitions, the basic right to autonomy, then temporary workers have no ability to fight for their rights at the workplace. They will be forced to accept unfair working conditions, unfair pay, and unfair hours because the employer will hold the trump card in any negotiations at the workplace—the employer will hold the key to the immigrants future. Without the right to self-petition, temporary workers become victims at the workplace. When temporary workers lose, all workers lose.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink The Voting Rights ActTue May 16, 08:45 AM
“Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act has been one of the most effective defenses of that basic right. For over 40 years, this provision has helped to sustain to the progress that was made by those who risked their lives and livelihoods in the Civil Rights Movement. It’s an essential protection against backsliding by jurisdictions with a history of discrimination in voting. It prevents these jurisdictions from changing their voting rules without first showing that the proposed changes have neither a discriminatory purpose nor effect. As the Supreme Court stated in upholding Section 5 in South Carolina v. Katzenbach, ‘After enduring nearly a century of systematic resistance to the Fifteenth Amendment, Congress might well decide to shift the advantage of time and inertia from the perpetrators of the evil to its victims.’” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink President Bush's Immigration PlanMon May 15, 08:46 PM
This evening, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement in response to President Bush’s immigration address: “I commend the President for his courage in calling the nation’s attention to the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform that includes providing a path to citizenship for those who are here. We are at a critical moment in this debate and his leadership is essential as we fight to fix our broken system once and for all. In reality, this debate is much larger and far reaching than the issue of immigration alone. It is about our national security and protecting our homeland. It is also about the kind of America we have been and the even stronger America we hope to become. It is about opening doors of opportunity to unleash the talents and strengths of everyone in the land, regardless of color or creed, so that we face the future with hope and determination. I hope that the urgent work of immigration reform is not sidetracked by the President’s proposal to use the National Guard at the border. We need to examine the plan carefully. I am concerned particularly by the strain it would pose to the men and women of the National Guard who already have faced multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and aid extensively at home in responding to natural disasters. We know enforcement alone will not get the job done. The only way to gain control of our borders is to combine stronger enforcement with a pathway to citizenship for those undocumented workers who are here and a realistic temporary worker program that includes the possibility of citizenship. That’s what our plan does and it has the support of employers, workers, Republicans, Democrats, religious leaders, civil rights groups, and the American people. Now is the time to make it the law of the land.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Kenedy: Today's Immigrants Are Tomorrow's AmericansMon May 15, 02:41 PM
“This debate reminds us once again that we are truly a nation of immigrants. We recall that throughout our history, courageous immigrants have provided the hard work, the strong families, and the love of our country which define the American spirit. They dug our canals and built our railroads. They advanced our science and fostered our innovation. They fought in our wars, and 60,000 have served our colors with pride in Iraq and Afghanistan. They became part of the American dream. Immigrants have been the heart and the muscle that have moved this country forward for 400 years, and helped make America the envy of the world.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Enforcing the Voting Rights ActWed May 10, 09:23 AM
Senator Kennedy gave the following statement at ttoday’s hearing on enforcement of the Voting Rights Act: “The Voting Rights Act was adopted to address systematic and egregious discrimination that endured for over 100 years. We heard testimony yesterday regarding the unfortunate fact that in numerous ways, this discrimination still endures today. Laughlin McDonald, the director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project provided very recent examples. He testified about a TRO that was just issued last month to potentially discriminatory voting changes made in Randolph County, Georgia, that were not submitted for preclearance. Regrettably, it is not surprising that it may take more than 40 years to eliminate the “blight of racial discrimination in voting.” The Voting Rights Act combats the ills that are at the core of the 14th and 15th Amendment – racial prejudice. While the remedy is strong, it is appropriate, given the fundamental importance of the right to vote and participate in the political process. As the Supreme Court has held, the electoral franchise is a fundamental right that is “preservative of all other rights.” We cannot discard lightly the safeguards adopted in the Voting Rights Act, particularly in Section 5 of the Act. The progress we have made has been great, but it has not been complete, and we cannot allow it to be jeopardized or diminished. Today we will be hearing about the Justice Department’s efforts to enforce the Voting Rights Act. While I have some concerns about the Justice Department’s recent approach to implementing the Act, today we will hear from the Assistant Attorney General about the Justice Department’s efforts, and the continuing need for vigorous enforcement. Section 5 has been the Federal Government’s most effective tool against voting discrimination. Even after the Act was passed, there was a real and substantial danger that discriminatory decisions by jurisdictions covered by Section 5 would deny or abridge the right to vote. And in fact jurisdictions did adopt a host of voting devices and changes, some subtle and some overt, with the intent to shut minorities out of voting power. Some of those decisions had a discriminatory purpose, some had a discriminatory effect, and others had both. It was because of the work of the Justice Department under Section 5 of the Act that those invidious voting changes were not implemented, and that any progress in political participation was not undone. Taking a long view, historically, the Justice Department has vigorously carried out its Section 5 responsibilities precisely as Congress intended it to. The record we will be examining, and which the House hearings examined closely, indicates that there is a continuing problem with discriminatory decision-making with respect to voting by jurisdictions covered by Section 5. Today we will also hear from witnesses who will describe in more detail the concerns about continuing discrimination in some of the jurisdictions covered by Section 5 and Section 203 – the minority language sections of the Voting Rights Act. As we have noted, compiling this record is one of the most important purposes of these hearings, and will provide a sturdy foundation for our actions in this most important piece of legislation. In addition, we will specifically be hearing about the role that Section 203 has played in ensuring the right to vote and having that vote counted fully and fairly. Section 203 requires that certain jurisdictions provide for language assistance to American citizens who are limited in their English proficiency. Section 203 directly addresses barriers to voting for Asian Americans, Latinos and Native Americans, and it too is a provision that should not be allowed to expire. I thank the Chairman, and I look forward to hearing today’s testimony.” More from Senator Kennedy on the Voting Rights Act Reauthoriztion National Commission on the Voting Rights Act The Voting Rights Act (Dept. of Justice) –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Kennedy on the Nomination of Brett KavanaughTue May 9, 01:38 PM
“The ABA has now completed three evaluations of Mr. Kavanaugh’s qualifications. Each time they look more closely, his rating goes down, and now a majority of that committee does not believe he can meet their highest standard for federal nominees. Chairman Specter properly concluded that the ABA’s downgrading justified a Judiciary committee hearing to review the details of their investigation and determination. But apparently the White House feared what the ABA would say in public, because at the last minute, we were presented with a private telephone conference call in which most members were unable to participate and no Senator was able to join for more than a few minutes. The White House fears were justified, since the ABA’s testimony and responses to staff questions raised a host of new questions which should be answered by the ABA and then by the nominee in open session. Among other revelations, it appears that, contrary to White House claims that changes in committee membership caused the downgrade, in fact many members of the ABA committee downgraded their own assessments of the nominee based on new information. We don’t know whether the nominee will be any more responsive now than he was in his original hearing three years ago and in his long-delayed answers to written questions two years ago. So we have a lot to do to meet our constitutional responsibilities in this matter. Yet we are told that we must meet some artificial deadline for dealing with this nomination in Committee. That’s uncalled for, and it would be irresponsible of us to consider this nomination until all the relevant questions have been asked and fully answered.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Building a Democracy in IraqWed May 3, 03:55 PM
Senator Kennedy’s amendment to provide funding to continue democracy programs in Iraq was approved and is now part of the Iraq Supplemental bill. The Kennedy-Biden-Leahy amendment will provide $104.5 million dollars for U.S. non-governmental organizations to continue their important work of promoting democracy in Iraq. Some of the U.S. non-governmental organizations on the front lines of the effort to build democracy would run out of funds as early as this summer – just when the Iraqis need these organizations the most. Despite the commitment of these organizations to promoting democracy and reconciliation in Iraq and their presence on the ground in Iraq, the Administration has made no long-term commitment to any of them. “Regardless of whether we supported or oppose the war, we all agree that the work of building democracy requires patience, skill, guaranteed continuity, and adequate resources. The President speaks about having patience for democracy in Iraq, but then has cut funding for the groups who are assisting so capably in its development,” Senator Kennedy said. “The measure accepted today will provide them with the resources they need and makes clear our commitment to stand by these organizations that are working on the front lines in the struggle for democracy in Iraq every day.” The amendment also requires periodic from the President outlining a short-term and long-term strategy to promote and develop democracy in Iraq and progress in achieving those goals. Below is a brief description of the amendment and Senator Kennedy’s floor remarks. The Kennedy-Biden-Leahy Amendment Kennedy on the Voting Rights Act ReauthorizationThu Apr 27, 01:52 PM
“he Act is one of the most important and effective civil rights laws that Congress has ever passed. It protects one of our most precious rights. Martin Luther King called it, “civil right number one” – the right to vote and have that vote fully and fairly counted, regardless of color, ethnic background, or fluency in English – so that discrimination and its bitter legacy do not close the polls to any citizen. One of the most important struggles of the twentieth century was the struggle to ensure the right to vote for every American, regardless of race, national origin, or proficiency in English. For most of the nation’s history, the right to vote was shamefully denied to large numbers of our population because of the color of their skin. Many sung and unsung heroes of the civil rights movement sacrificed their security, their livelihoods, and even their lives, so that every American would have the right to vote. Although the right to vote, regardless of color, is clearly granted in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments of the Constitution, it took almost 100 years to give it real protection under our laws. Congress finally moved to correct this national wrong in 1965, when we passed the Voting Rights Act.” Full Text after the Jump Senator Kennedy on Immigration and the American EconomyTue Apr 25, 08:43 AM
“Since our beginnings as a nation, immigrants have contributed in countless ways to our nation, our families, our communities, our religious life and our economic growth. We’re here today to learn more about the effects of immigration on our economy. As Americans, we know that immigrants bring with them a commitment to hard work and the American dream. That’s why they came to America. Each of us can tell stories of immigrants who have made a difference in our communities – if not from our own family histories, then of the hard-working immigrants in our neighborhoods who established successful small businesses or worked in our vital industries or cleaned our office buildings. These kinds of immigrant stories are replayed every day throughout our economy. In fact, every census since 1890 has found that immigrants are more likely than U.S. workers to be self-employed. A third of all the start-ups in Silicon Valley, for example, were founded by immigrants. Nearly half of the Nobel Prizes awarded to U.S. researchers in the last century were won by immigrants or children of immigrants, bringing pride and progress to our nation. The overwhelming majority of immigrants – even those here illegally – work, pay taxes, and pay in to Social Security. In fact, undocumented immigrants pay an estimated $35 billion in taxes each year. One study reports that the average immigrant family pays $80,000 more in taxes than they consume in services. Clearly, in considering the effects of immigration, and the appropriate steps for reform, our first priority is to our own citizens. We must ensure that the new laws we pursue not only enhance our national security, but also our job security. In too many cases today, our outdated immigration laws displace American workers from their jobs or lower their wages. That is why our reforms are designed to guard against that abuse. They include support for immigrants’ wages, legal protections at the worksite, and the right to organize unions. They level the playing field by bringing hard working immigrants out of the shadows and make it less likely that employers get away with paying substandard wages. There are few debates more essential to America than this, as immigration goes to the heart of what we are as a nation of immigrants. We have a solemn obligation to get it right, and I commend our Chairman for holding this hearing today.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Progress on Immigration, One Step at a TimeTue Apr 11, 09:24 AM
With His Small Steps, Kennedy Keeps in Stride as a Player – The Boston Globe “It was Kennedy who negotiated with the White House and Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, to craft a compromise that still commands a majority of the Senate; and it will be Kennedy who draws on his personal convictions and decades of good will to try to pull the remaining recalcitrant Democrats aboard over the two-week Senate recess. Then, if the Senate finally approves a bill allowing some kind of guest-worker program and a path to citizenship for the millions of illegals, Kennedy will strive to keep the White House and the Senate leadership from giving away too much to hard-liners in the House, who want to impose criminal penalties on people who provide services to illegals. Kennedy is uniquely qualified to maneuver these kinds of legislative straits. Having overseen the most sweeping expansions in history of federal assistance for healthcare and education, Kennedy can make a reasonable claim to being the greatest legislator of his generation.” Kennedy Joins Thousands on the Mall for Immigration RallyMon Apr 10, 02:53 PM
“Some in Congress want to turn America away from its true spirit,” Senator Kennedy said, “They believe immigrants are criminals. That’s false. They believe any of us who help immigrants – even our priests – are criminals, too. That’s false. They say you should report to deport. I say report to become American citizens. More than four decades ago, near this place, Martin Luther King called on the nation to let freedom ring. Freedom did ring – and freedom can ring again. It is time for Americans to lift their voices now—in pride for our immigrant past and in pride for our immigrant future.”
Senator Kennedy’s remarks after the jump: Kennedy: The Immigration Battle Must Go OnFri Apr 7, 09:42 AM
Transcribed from the Floor “Mr. President, I want in this stage of the whole consideration of immigration reform to just mention my friend and colleague, Senator McCain, who I’ve had the good opportunity to work with, and others, particularly Senator McCain over the last three years in terms of developing a comprehensive approach on this issue. And sort of a bipartisan group that came together, members of our judiciary committee, people that had a particular interest that were outside of our committee. I’m very grateful to them, our chairman of our committee, to Senator Specter, always a valued friend, and always a leader, senator Leahy. I thank my own leader, Senator Reid, for all of his good work and counsel and advice, to the senator from Illinois, Senator Durbin, Senator Salazar, Menendez, Lieberman, Obama have all been good supporters during this period. The other side has worked closely with us. Senator Feinstein has been a person of enormous knowledge, understanding on a range of immigration issues, with very special attention to California, which presents such challenges, and she has not only in this debate and discussion—has been an extraordinary ally, but to any debate and discussion on immigration and immigration reform, she brings a special dimension, and she worked with Senator Craig in a very strong bipartisan way. In the initial proposal that Senator McCain I had introduced, we recognized that the AgJobs bill was important and rather than making this issue more complicated, we did not include it; we welcomed it when we had the leadership of Senator Feinstein and Senator Craig. So this has been a bipartisan effort really on trying to bring about immigration reform. I will not review the very strong and positive arguments about the border being broken and our need for focus and attention on the border. Our national security interests and issues of trying to get it right in considering who comes to the united states and who does not come and to our sense of humanity, which I’ll speak about for just a few minutes. How we’re going to treat those that have come here, work hard, play by the rules, are devoted to their family and religion, join the armed forces and serve our country and serve nobly. So, Mr. President, I rise this morning recognizing that the United States Senate has failed to adopt the urgently needed immigration reform and in doing so we really fail in our duty to our nation and our democracy and our American people. We really only make progress when we have that bipartisanship. We haven’t had a great deal of bipartisanship over the recent past. We certainly did on this issue, and that’s why it is doubly disappointing and sorrowful that we have missed the opportunity at this time. We also failed, I believe, our immigrant heritage and the 11 million undocumented workers and families who look to us for hope. Clearly the obstacles to progress are many but for those who are committed to immigration reform, this debate is certainly not over. We will continue, if not today, then tomorrow and the days ahead because the battle must go on. As one who has been in the trenches on this issue since I first came to the United States Senate and has been a part of this effort to try and put into perspective the enormous magnet of America, to people to look to it with the with the hope and opportunity and progress, and those that understand that we have to do this in an orderly and rational, reasonable and lawful way, there’s always tension. But we are proudly a nation of immigrants. And I’m certain I certainly feel that we have lost a chance to make important progress on this issue. Mr. President, what’s at stake is not just our security but our humanity as well, and we can’t set that aside. We vote today on our security but also on our humanity. We cast a vote of what congress will do about Sheilah, an undocumented immigrant originally from Cork Island, has lived on Cape Cod the last ten years, left Ireland due to economic depression. Now her whole life is in the United States. Her citizen brother is fighting in Iraq, but upon petitioning for her, he found he had a 15-20 year wait. Sheilah listened to her grandfather’s funeral through a cell phone because she wasn’t able to travel to Ireland. A talented musician, she has helped pay taxes as a carpet cleaner and secretary. We vote today about what to do about William, who came to Massachusetts 14 years ago from Guatemala to make a better life for his family. He is a factory worker, has been paying taxes for the past 14 years. He has son David, seven years old who has cerebral palsy. David is blind and can’t walk. William is the sole provider. I am reminded in these last moments, I read the statement that the archbishop of Los Angeles has been a courageous voice on these issues. “Now is an historic moment for our country. We need to come together to enact immigration reform which upholds our basic rights and dignity. That is the challenge before us.” Mr. President, 50 years ago President Kennedy wrote a book called “”the nation of immigrants” and in this book, I’ll just mention a very brief part. He talks about “just over 350 years, nearly two million have grown up almost entirely populated by others who came from other lands. As president Franklin Roosevelt reminded a convention of the Daughters of the American Revolution, remember always that all of us, you and I especially, descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” Walter Whitman said “these states are the amplest poem. Here is not merely a nation but a teaming of nations. To know America it is necessary to understand this peculiarity of the American social revolution. It is necessary to know why over 50 million people gave up their settled lives to start anew in a strange and settled land we must know how they met the land and how it met them and how important it is these things are for our future.” these lived words are as alive today as they were then. We want to give the assurance of those who have given us great support over this period of time that we’re in the battle to the end.” Bipartisan Immigration Plan Deserves a VoteWed Apr 5, 08:24 PM
Kennedy and Colleagues Join Evangelical Leaders To Speak Out on Immigratino ReformWed Apr 5, 01:12 PM
Today Senators Kennedy, McCain, Feinstein, Graham, Menendez, and Salazar joined Evangelical leaders speaking out on the need for their plan for comprehensive immigration reform. Religious leaders across the country have spoken out in favor of a fair but tough plan that does not make criminals of the undocumented or those who care for them. Senator Kennedy said, “I am honored to stand with these religious leaders who are acting out of fairness and a concern for others to make their voices heard in support of comprehensive immigration reform. This immigration debate is about our security, but it is also about our humanity. And these religious leaders make that clear today. Across the country in their churches, in the schools, on the street corners, Americans are speaking out and the Senate is listening.” The Evangelicals issued a letter from religious leaders from across the country signed onto the letter expressing support of comprehensive immigration reform “based on Biblical mandates, our Christian faith and values, and our commitment to civil and human rights.” The letter states, “We value immigrants as human beings, made in the image of God. We are aware of the obstacles that immigrants face, especially undocumented individuals, because they are vital members of our churches, our communities, and our nation. Evangelical immigrants are a continually growing part of our churches.” Immigration is the Story of America's Past and FutureMon Apr 3, 01:43 PM
“”Immigration is the story of American history. From the earliest days of our nation, generation upon generation of immigrants has come to be part of a land that offers freedom and opportunity to those willing to do their part. Immigrants built our great cities. They cultivated our rich farm lands. They built the railroads and highways that bind America from sea to shining sea. They erected houses of worship to practice their faiths. They fought under America’s colors in our wars. In fact, 60,000 immigrants are fighting in the U.S. armed forces in Iraq and Afghanistan today. Immigrants worked hard so that their children could embrace the ever widening possibilities in our land. And over the centuries, immigrants came to America from every part of the globe and made the American dream. They created a nation that is the envy of the world. That is our history. But it is also our present and our future. We heard the moving immigration story anew here in the Senate just last week as Senator Domenici eloquently described his family’s immigrant roots. He told how his parents came from Italy with nothing. His father earned his citizenship through his service in the U.S. Army in the First World War. His mother remained an undocumented immigrant until much later in life. In fact, she was arrested by the immigration authorities many years after coming to America, but she was able to gain legal status, remain in the country and later become a citizen. The Domenicis worked hard, learned English, built a successful grocery business, and their children went on to have successful professional careers. And as we know, one became a distinguished and respected United States Senator. Last week we also heard from Senator Martinez of Florida of his family’s flight from Cuba to begin new lives in America. Young Mel Martinez was 15 years old when his family escaped from Cuba to seek a new life of freedom. Like millions before him, his family worked hard, learned English, and earned their success in Florida. And today, Mel Martinez not only was a cabinet secretary in the Administration, but was elected by the people of Florida to serve as their United States Senator. There are some in the United States Senate who seem to believe that immigrants are just criminals. In fact, the Frist bill that’s before the Senate declares that all undocumented immigrants are criminals. The Frist bill would have declared Senator Domenici’s mother to be a criminal and the Kyl amendment would disqualify her from earning American citizenship. The facts tell a different story. Immigrants – including undocumented immigrants – continue to strengthen the fabric of America in thousands of different ways. As David Brooks observed in his column last week in the New York Times, Hispanic Americans and Hispanic immigrants in particular are less likely to divorce. Husbands and wives stay together and raise their children. Even though they may have less money than other Americans, they spend almost twice as much on music for their children, they spend more on gifts and family get-togethers, and they are more likely to support their elderly parents. And the path of progress that we witnessed with the Martinez and Domenici families is familiar even today. By the second generation, most immigrant families have reached the middle class and they pay more than enough taxes to make up for the costs of their parents’ generation. By the third generation, 90 percent of the grandchildren of Hispanic immigrants speak English fluently, and 50 percent of them marry non-Hispanics. These patterns of assimilation are identical to those that characterized the children and grandchildren of Southern and Eastern European immigrants who came to the United States 100 years ago, and to the assimilation of German and Irish immigrants who came here 50 years before that.” more after the jump Endorsing a Real Solution on ImmigrationThu Mar 30, 01:45 PM
Newspapers across Massachusetts are weighing in in support of the Kennedy-McCain immigration reform bill. The Boston Globe The Boston Herald Yesterday the Senate committee at least backed away from a House proposal that would have made it a felony for anyone to provide assistance to illegal immigrants. The amendment from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) adopted by the committee yesterday protects churches, charitable groups and individuals from criminal prosecution for providing food, shelter, medical assistance or counseling to illegal aliens. We should thus at least be spared the sight of clergy being dragged off in handcuffs.” Springfield Republican The United States will build a wall along its 2,000-mile border with Mexico at a cost of billions of dollars. Anyone caught giving food or shelter or providing any other humanitarian assistance to an illegal immigrant would face criminal charges. If the conservative Republicans succeed, the United States should put the Statue of Liberty in a crate and ship it back to France. A bipartisan bill crafted by Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John McCain offers a more realistic bill that is not a betrayal of the nation’s ideals. Whatever is in the final immigration bill that reaches the desk of the president, it must be a policy that shows the United States is a decent nation, that it is still a land of opportunity even when it is facing the threat of terrorist attack. And, above all, it must be a policy that recognizes this nation was made by immigrants.” Worcester Telegram and Gazette The Senate bill, unlike the hard-line House bill passed last year, is more pragmatic than ideologically pure. Also unlike the House’s pipe dream of making the borders impenetrable, it has a reasonable chance of actually working. The status quo — a vast underground population of illegal workers nationwide — ill-serves the security interests or economic interests of the United States. The Senate bill points to a better way.” Lowell Sun The polls say many Americans are reluctant to give a break to illegal immigrants – except, of course, the one who pours their coffee or mows their lawn. But the 70 rigid congressmen are surely on the wrong side of history. America will pull in the workers it needs, legally or illegally. For those who worry about terrorists, legally is better because there’s a record. For those who worry about labor exploitation, legally is better because workers have some rights.” Cape Cod Times It’s silly to think that building a 700-mile wall to separate Mexico and the United States will solve the problem. Equally ludicrous is the plan to turn all 12 million illegal immigrants into criminal felons overnight. But that’s exactly the aim of legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. (Concrete company lobbyists must be salivating over the prospects of building both the Great Wall of the Rio Grande and/or more prisons). There has to be a solution found between the House proposal, which is harsh, and the Senate proposals, which strive for a degree of sensibility. On principle, lawbreakers should not get a free ride or advantages that place them ahead of legal immigrants playing by the rules to achieve American citizenship. Amnesty for illegals can’t be part of the solution. The Senate has to adopt a fair but firm policy to give illegal immigrants a choice. If they wish to remain here, they must agree to identify themselves, apply for a workers’ visa, pay back taxes and fines, learn to speak English and pledge to become U.S. citizens over a set period of time. That’s a clear policy.” New Bedford Standard-Times Republicans and Democrats in the Senate gave committee approval to a bill that would establish a reasonable approach to the estimated 11 million undocumented people who are in this country illegally, largely for economic reasons, but sometimes also for political reasons. Since Sept. 11, 2001, demonstrated in unspeakable terms that dangerous foreigners were living among us, America’s leaders have sought to find a solution that balances the need of U.S. businesses for labor against our need for national security. The debate has not always been illuminating or helpful. The Senate version, crafted with the help of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., would establish a means for millions of undocumented workers to remain here, begin the process of becoming citizens, and work legally and without fear, paying taxes and contributing to Social Security.” Metrowest Daily News Berkshire Eagle A bill produced by the Senate Judiciary Committee is flawed, primarily in its failure to address the economic implications of illegal immigration, but it offers a starting point for negotiations. It eliminates the barbarism of the House bill, and by allowing those here illegally since before 2004 to continue working if they pay a $1,000 fine and clear a background check, it is more realistic than a House bill that would somehow toss thousands of people out of the country by and jail others along with the social workers who helped them.” North Adams Transcript It’s a competing set of priorities that pits liberals against conservatives, the business community against municipalities, Southwest against the North and the president against some in his own party. There aren’t any easy answers. And the final draft of the bill could well determine if America still sees itself as a welcoming nation of immigrants — or a nation hiding behind a wall.” An Opportuntiy to Fully Embrace Immigration ReformWed Mar 29, 03:46 PM
President Bush made clear today that he thinks guest workers should be able to become American citizens. He stated, “I believe that we ought to say to somebody doing a job an American won’t do, ‘here is a tamper-proof identity card that will enable you to be here for a period of time. And if that person wants to become a citizen of the United States, because we’re a nation of laws, they get at the end of the line, not the beginning of the line.” Senator Kennedy issued the following statement in response: “I commend President Bush for backing the position that guest workers should be given the opportunity for earned citizenship. It is the only realistic way to break the cycle of illegality and is an essential aspect of the McCain-Kennedy three-part strategy to fix the broken system: stronger enforcement to improve our national security, a temporary worker program to meet the need for future flows that includes the opportunity for earned citizenship, and a path to earned citizenship for those who are already here. As the President departs for Mexico today, he has before him an opportunity to fully embrace bipartisan comprehensive reform and the McCain-Kennedy plan. As he rightly says, we can be both a nation of laws and a welcoming nation.” Providing a Path To Citizenship to Break the Cycle of IllegalityWed Mar 29, 01:54 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy delivered remarks on the Senate floor outlining his bipartisan plan for immigration reform. The debate on the McCain-Kennedy bill is expected to begin today or tomorrow morning. On Monday, with a vote of 12- 6, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes the main provisions of the McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill: a guest worker program for foreign workers that provides an opportunity for earned legalization and a program for the 12 million undocumented workers in the United States that would allow for earned legalization. Kennedy believes that providing a path to citizenship is the only way to break the cycle of illegality. Kennedy addressed the false charge of amnesty that immigration restrictionists are making about his bill. “No one is advocating amnesty. The challenge before us is too important to base our decisions on short-term political expediency or to be intimidated by demagogues,” Senator Kennedy said. “Those who are charging amnesty would have us build higher and longer walls at the border. They would have us further restrict migrants’ legal rights and make these hard working men and women not just subject to deportation, but also to time in US prisons for the “crime” of living and working in this country. They would go much farther, actually making felons of people like Cardinal Mahoney and tens of thousands of other clergy and social workers who offer counseling or humanitarian support to undocumented immigrants.” Kennedy’s guest worker measure creates a new temporary visa to allow foreign workers to enter the US. The visa is valid for 3 years, and can be renewed one time for a total of 6 years. It contains strong labor protections for all workers, visas for family members, a path to permanent residence and citizenship and a flexible market-based cap, beginning at 400,000. Under the McCain-Kennedy plan for the 12 million undocumented workers already in the United States, they can apply for temporary status for six years, must demonstrate past work history, pay a 2 thousand dollar fine, undergo rigorous background and security checks, learn English and American civics, make good on back taxes, and satisfy additional criteria. Then if they wait until everyone already waiting their turn is processed through system they can apply for a green card. It is not amnesty, as opponents of the measure contend, rather it would give immigrants an incentive to come forward and an opportunity to earn legal status. The McCain-Kennedy bill, which was introduced last May, is the only bipartisan reform measure and has earned broad and diverse support because of its common sense plan to strengthen border protection and enforcement while reflecting our best values as a nation—of fairness, equal opportunity, and respect for the law. It has the strong backing of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce along with other business groups, labor unions such as SEIU, religious leaders and Hispanic advocacy groups. The bill’s co-sponsors include Senators Graham, Brownback, Lieberman, Salazar, Obama and Martinez. A Victory on Comprehensive Immigration ReformTue Mar 28, 08:16 AM
With a vote of 12- 6, the Senate Judiciary Committee passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes the main provisions of the McCain-Kennedy immigration reform bill: a guest worker program for foreign workers that provides an opportunity for earned legalization and a program for the 12 million undocumented workers in the United States that would allow for earned legalization. Kennedy believes that providing a path to citizenship is the only way to break the cycle of illegality. The measure is now set to move to the floor, in compliance with the deadline set by the Majority Leader. “The country has spoken, and today the Senate listened,” Kennedy said in reference to the million people across the country who have rallied in support of such a plan. “No issue goes to the heart of who we are as Americans more than immigration. This measure will strengthen our national security by protecting our borders more effectively. It reflects our values as a nation of immigrants deciding who can earn the privilege of American citizenship. And it’s about our progress as immigrants contribute to our economic growth. I am proud of my colleagues for coming together in a bipartisan way to address this great challenge.” Kennedy’s guest worker measure creates a new temporary visa to allow foreign workers to enter the US. The visa is valid for 3 years, and can be renewed one time for a total of 6 years. It contains strong labor protections for all workers, visas for family members, a path to permanent residence and citizenship and a flexible market-based cap, beginning at 400,000. Under the McCain-Kennedy plan for the 12 million undocumented workers already in the United States, they can apply for temporary status for six years, must demonstrate past work history, pay a 2 thousand dollar fine, undergo rigorous background and security checks, learn English and American civics, make good on back taxes, and satisfy additional criteria. Then if they wait until everyone already waiting their turn is processed through system they can apply for a green card. It is not amnesty, as opponents of the measure contend, rather it would give immigrants an incentive to come forward and an opportunity to earn legal status. The McCain-Kennedy bill, which was introduced last May, is the only bipartisan reform measure and has earned broad and diverse support because of its common sense plan to strengthen border protection and enforcement while reflecting our best values as a nation—of fairness, equal opportunity, and respect for the law. It has the strong backing of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce along with other business groups, labor unions such as SEIU, religious leaders and Hispanic advocacy groups. The bill’s co-sponsors include Senators Graham, Brownback, Lieberman, Salazar, Obama and Martinez. Below are summaries of the guest worker provisions: Kennedy Temporary Worker Amendment #6375 The data clearly shows that immigrant workers are vital to our economy. Our current immigration laws are out of touch with current economic realities and have no way to meet future economic trends. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, more than 400,000 illegal immigrants arrive each year to work – and we need them to keep our economy growing. But current immigration law provides visas for only 5,000 lower-skilled workers. There is virtually no legal way for a foreign worker to enter the country and take a full-time, year-round job. With so few legal channels for foreign workers, the current system essentially guarantees an illegal flow. Businesses can’t find the workers they need. Entire industries operate on the wrong side of the law. Millions of foreign workers live in the country illegally. The immigration system doesn’t work for anyone. We can meet our labor needs by enabling employers to obtain a legal, reliable, secure supply of workers, making it unnecessary for businesses to resort to illegal workers. At the same time, by establishing an equitable temporary worker program with strong labor protections, fair wages, and portability, we will provide temporary workers with the same rights and protections as American workers. This formula will improve the working conditions for all workers. Temporary workers will be able to bargain for wages and benefits just as U.S. workers do. If they don’t like their jobs or the way they are treated, they will be permitted to change jobs. They will have the same right that American workers have to join or organize a union. Employers hiring temporary workers will be required to comply with all federal, state and local labor laws. Senator Specter has created a generous temporary worker program that that has good labor protections. It will provide visas for foreign workers to come legally and safely to the U.S. to fill jobs when Americans workers are not available. The amendment builds on that foundation, making a few but important modifications. First, I strike the requirement that H2C workers spend at least 1 year outside the U.S. before they are eligible to obtain an extension of their 3 year visa. This requirement is not beneficial to business or workers. Employers want to retain experienced and trained workers. Workers who have played by the rules should be allowed to extend their status. We grant this benefit to high-skilled workers. Lower skilled workers should be treated the same. It also give temporary workers who have lost their jobs a little more time to find a new employer. The Specter bill only gives a worker 45 days. Kennedy’s amendment extends it to 60 days. Sixty days is still significantly little time. The average length of unemployment for a lower-skilled U.S. worker is 16 weeks. The amendment also strikes provisions in the Specter bill that curtail access to administrative and judicial review. We should not give unfettered discretion to an agency which is prone to make mistakes. Senator Specter’s Mark requires employers to pay a prevailing wage. Kennedy’s amendment strengthens this requirement by precluding the use of unreliable private independent wage surveys. In order to make sure that these workers are paid fair wages and they don’t undercut the wages of U.S. workers, I require the payment of a prevailing wage rate under the Service Contract Act if it is a job is covered under that Act. In order to ensure that H2C workers are covered by all federal and state employment and labor laws, I modify Senator Specter’s definition of employer to also cover employees. Moreover I specify that that these terms have the same meaning as under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Senator Specter’s Mark establishes an administrative complaint process whereby the Secretary of Labor may review claims by aggrieved parties, including U.S. workers, and award back pay and benefits to workers and impose penalties and fines on employers who violate the terms of the program. Kennedy strengthens this process by making sure that workers can bring complaints for violations of the worker recruitment requirements, attestation process and prevailing wage requirements. The last two changes are the most important. The Specter temporary worker program fails to include a cap on the number of H2C visas that may be issued in a given year. My amendment would impose a flexible market-based cap, which would start at 400,000 per year. That number would gradually increase or decrease based on demand. Finally, the amendment provides temporary workers with an opportunity to become permanent residents, should they chose to do so. An employer could petition for the temporary worker at any time. In the alternative, a worker who has worked for at least 4 years as a temporary worker could self-petition to obtain permanent residence, provided he is admissible under our immigration laws. Facing the NationSun Mar 26, 02:24 PM
Senator Kennedy appeared on Sunday’s episode of Face the Nation on CBS. Crooks and Liarshas posted a segment of Senator Kennedy addressing the allegations made by Vice President Cheney last week. The Senator also discussed his immigration plan. A partial trnascript: BORGER: Let’s get right to this debate on immigration. We saw hundreds of thousands of people marching in the streets of Los Angeles yesterday. And what they’re marching about is a House bill that talks, Would you filibuster that kind of a bill in the Senate? KENNEDY: Well, first of all, let me say it’s better that we not pass a bad bill, just to pass a bill. But having said that, I’m hopeful that we can have a bill that is We’re facing a national security challenge on our borders on Secondly, this issue is a values issue. Who will we permit to In the time that I’ve been in the United States Senate, I’ve We have the leaders of—the faith-based leaders in our We have spent $20 billion on chains and fences and border guards and dogs in the southern border over the last 10 years. And it doesn’t work. What we need is a comprehensive approach. I think President Bush understands it. I think John McCain BORGER: Well, what do you say to people—you mentioned Senator McCain—you have a bill with Senator McCain that provides a path to citizenship. After six years, people pay their back taxes; they pay a fine. KENNEDY: First of all, this is not amnesty. We are not putting What we are saying is that there are 12 million individuals that Basically, they came here for economic reasons because they We have 70,000 (ph) permanent resident aliens in the military We have those individuals here. This is part of the challenge Our program puts those individuals here. First of all, they pay BORGER: Let me ask you about President Bush because he says Do you think you and President Bush can come to some kind of a KENNEDY: Well, first of all, I respect President Bush and the fact that he’s talked about this issue. We’re finding out now, on a complex issue—we’re finding out KENNEDY: Look at this, Gloria. At other times when we are facing major challenges in the country—the ones that were the most obvious to me are the civil rights issues—Republicans and Democrats came together on it. We came together even on the Medicare issue. We came together on the higher education issue. And the real question is, will the Senate yield to the hard right And one of their family initiatives is going to mean that Kennedy on Bush's Immigration RemarksThu Mar 23, 01:01 PM
“I am glad that President Bush is focusing on immigration as the Senate Judiciary Committee nears completion on its work on comprehensive reform. I agree with him in the need for reform that include a rational and compassionate program for immigrant workers. President Bush should back up his rhetoric by saying no to the immigration restrictionists in his party who want to close our borders and yes to the many Americans, business and labor community members, Democrats and Republicans, and religious leaders who want tough border security and an orderly immigration system that is consistent with our values. The draconian enforcement-only bill that Senator Frist has proposed and the bill that the House has passed would leave our broken immigration system still broken. We need realistic and comprehensive solutions that will protect our borders, enable temporary workers to come here legally, and allow workers already here to earn legal status. I’m hopeful that we can work with the President to enact a bill based on the principles of the McCain-Kennedy plan and reflects our heritage as both a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.” Senator Kennedy Receives a Lifetime Achievement Award for Civil RightsFri Mar 3, 05:30 PM
Senator Edward M. Kennedy was honored by the Museum of Afro-American History with the Museum’s 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award. Senator Kennedy spoke about the extraordinary contributions that the Museum of Afro-American History makes to understanding the past, and Boston’s role in civil rights in the past and into the future. “Through our history, Boston has often been in the forefront of efforts to protect and defend our freedoms,” said Senator Kennedy. “Beacon Hill has the largest concentration of sites of the Underground Railroad in our country. It’s a proud legacy and a reminder to us all that our history is a shared struggle by people of all backgrounds, races, and nationalities.” –Crystal Patterson | Permalink The Nuts and Bolts of ImmigrationThu Mar 2, 02:19 PM
Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee began its legislative work on an immigration bill by reviewing Chairman Specter’s immigration proposal – a plan that Kennedy and his colleagues will work to improve. The Kennedy – McCain plan to fix our broken immigration system, which Kennedy has been working on since 2001, has received strong diverse backing by business and labor groups, Republicans and Democrats, religious groups and immigration advocates because of its common sense approach to both strengthen border protection and our economy. By offering a pathway to citizenship and improving enforcement of our laws, the Kennedy plan reflects our best values as a nation—of fairness, equal opportunity, and respect for the law. Kennedy is optimistic that the Senate can produce a good bill that will fix a broken system and offered suggestions to improving Specter’s proposal. Kennedy has concerns that the Chairman’s proposal, if enacted, would seriously harm immigrants and their families and do little to fix our broken immigration system and will drive millions of decent people farther and farther underground. He does not believe in guest worker programs, as Specter has proposed, that would establish for the first time in our nation’s history a class of millions of people who are forever in a temporary worker status. “Our national security now requires us to know who is entering and living in the United States. We can’t afford to ignore illegal immigration any more. The vast majority of immigrants are undoubtedly motivated by their desire to work and support their families, but the lesson of 9/11 and the hundreds of terror attacks around the world since then is that some will enter the United States for deadly reasons. We need an immigration system that brings everyone out of the shadows and eliminates illegal inflows,” Senator Kennedy said. “The Chairman’s bill before us contains some elements of a smart approach to immigration control. But rather than targeting US enforcement primarily at the criminal networks which make up the infrastructure of undocumented immigration, the bill is indiscriminate in its criminalization of immigrants themselves.” A Comparison of the McCain-Kennedy Plan and the Specter Plan on Immigration Senator Kennedy’s Remarks on the Specter Immigration Plan –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Fighting for Real Immigration ReformWed Mar 1, 10:35 AM
“Our bill will protect our borders. And it will protect opportunity and basic dignity for all immigrants in the United States,” Senator Kennedy said. “There are powerful forces that want to keep things just as they are. And we must stand up to them. They want to oppress workers and deny them a fair wage. They want cheap workers who will leave in fear. They want profits instead of human dignity. But we say, that’s not the American way. We say “no” to a broken immigration system and “yes” to strong and fair reform.”
Senator Kennedy Speaks at the UNITE HERE Rally on Immigration Reform A Comparison of the McCain-Kennedy Bill and the Specter Bill on Immigration –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Charging Taxpayers To Continue Discrimination in the MilitaryTue Feb 14, 12:05 PM
In February 2005, the GAO estimated that the cost of replacing service members fired for homosexuality at $190.5 million. A report released today, however, by the University of California at Santa Barbara estimates the costs at over $363.8 million. Understanding what the true cots of replacing service members is critically important, especially during a time of war when manpower is critical. Senator Kennedy said, “Today’s report demonstrates that there is a significant cost to the tax payer for this discriminatory policy. We need to understand why the GAO departed from previous estimates of training when putting together this report. The strain on the military is intense, and many have been involuntarily called to duty. Prejudice should not prevent those who wish to serve from doing so.” The text of the letter is included below. February 14, 2006 The Honorable David M. Walker Dear Mr. Walker, In 1993, Congress passed a law codifying a long-standing Pentagon policy, informally known as, “don’t ask, don’t tell,” banning overt homosexual activity in the military. Many members of Congress objected to that law, and still believe that it discriminates unfairly against a group of people who want to serve their country. In February 2005, the Government Accountability Office released a report, “Financial Costs and Loss of Critical Skills Due to DOD’s Homosexual Conduct Policy Cannot Be Completely Estimated.” The GAO study estimated the cost of discharging and replacing service members fired for homosexuality as at least $190.5 million for Fiscal Years 1994 through 2003. By contrast, today a report by the Blue Ribbon Commission of the University of California at Santa Barbara estimates those costs over the same time period were at least $363.8 million, or nearly twice as high as the GAO estimate. The report emphasized that even this figure was a conservative estimate. I’m enclosing the University of California report, which analyzed areas in which GAO may have over-estimated some costs and underestimated some others. Over 90 percent of that difference results from the costs of training replacement enlisted personnel. The report estimated that cost at $252.4 million compared to GAO’s estimate of only $93.1 million. In developing its 2005 estimate, GAO relied on basic and skill training costs provided by the services. The Navy estimated that it cost $18,000 to train an enlisted person, the Air Force $7,400; and the Army $6,400. Yet in 1998, a GAO study estimated an average training cost of $28,000 per enlisted recruit. It is difficult to reconcile the decrease in cost of training between the 2005 report and the 1998 report. Congress relies heavily on the accuracy and integrity of GAO’s reports and it’s essential for us to have a reliable estimate of the costs of implementing the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. I urge GAO to explain the difference between its 2005 cost estimate, its 1998 estimate, and the estimate just provided by the University of California report. With respect and appreciation, Sincerely, Edward M. Kennedy –Crystal Patterson | Permalink Kennedy on Paul McNulty's Nomination to Deputy Attorney GeneralThu Feb 2, 02:28 PM
“Congress and the American people deserve full and honest answers about the Administration’s domestic electronic surveillance activities. There is no legitimate purpose in denying access by Members of Congress to all of the legal analysis that the President relied upon when he authorized these activities. Instead of providing us with the documents the Administration relied upon, the Justice Department continues to circulate summaries and “white papers” on the legal authorities it purports to have to ignore the law. It now appears that the President did so on at least thirty occasions after September 11th. The Administration has made a unilateral decision that Congressional and judicial oversight can be discarded, in spite of what the law obviously requires. This is about the fundamental values in our society – credibility, candor, competency and compliance with the law. We need a thorough investigation of these activities. Congress and the American people deserve answers, and they deserve answers now.” Kennedy on His Decision To Support the Filibuster of AlitoThu Jan 26, 04:46 PM
“Other than voting to send our men and women to war, there is no more important vote in the Senate than our vote on a Supreme Court nominee. This is a vote of a generation and a test of conscience. Judge Alito does not share the values of equality and justice that make this country strong. He does not deserve a place on the highest court of the land. We owe it to future generations of Americans to oppose this nomination. If Judge Alito is confirmed, he will serve on the court long after President Bush leaves office, and the progress of half a century on the basic rights of all Americans is likely to be rolled back. He’s the wrong justice for justice and the rule of law in America.” Senator Kennedy on His Opposition to Judge AlitoThu Jan 26, 01:30 PM
“In case after case, Judge Alito’s decisions demonstrate a systematic tilt toward powerful institutions, and against individuals attempting to vindicate their rights. How can a clear record like that possibly justify a lifetime position on the Supreme Court? In the years ahead, the Court will decide case after case on issues that will profoundly affect the daily lives of every American. Judge Alito’s record shows that if we care about these issues, Judge Alito should not be given what may well be the deciding vote on these vital decisions by our nation’s highest court. I urge my colleagues to oppose this nomination.” Kennedy Floor Statement Opposing AlitoWed Jan 25, 11:19 AM
“In case after case, Judge Alito’s decisions demonstrate a systematic tilt toward powerful institutions, and against individuals attempting to vindicate their rights. He cites instances in which he has decided for the little guy, but they are few and far between. The Republicans like to say they don’t want a judge who always decides for “the little guy.” And neither do we. But we do want a judge who will rule for the little guy when the law and the facts are on the little guy’s side, especially when other judges have come to that conclusion. But time after time in such cases Judge Alito leaves the little guy out in the cold. We have an independent duty to evaluate Supreme Court nominees to determine whether their confirmation is in the best interests of our nation. That is the test. It’s a test with which Judge Alito himself seems to agree. He said that we should look at his record and decide whether he should be confirmed. I have done so. But I have compared the challenges the Court will face in the future with Judge Alito’s record, and I cannot support his nomination. In this new century, the Court will undoubtedly consider sweeping new claims to expand executive power at the expense of core individual rights – including detention of Americans on American soil without access to counsel or the court, and eavesdropping on Americans in violation of federal law. The Court will decide new issues in America’s struggle against prejudice and discrimination. And it must remain a fair and impartial decision-maker for ordinary Americans seeking justice. Judge Alito’s record shows that he should not be entrusted with these vital decisions facing our nation’s highest court. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing Judge Alito’s nomination.” Senator Kennedy's Statement to the Judiciary Committee on the Alito NominationTue Jan 24, 10:49 AM
“In evaluating Supreme Court nominees, there is no more important question than whether they are dedicated to equal justice under law. Judge Alito is highly intelligent, but his record does not show a judge who is willing to enforce the constitutional limitations on executive power when government officials intrude on individual rights. His record does not show a judge who is open to the claims of vulnerable individuals asking only justice against powerful institutions. His record does not show a judge who upholds the liberty and privacy of citizens seeking to protect their fundamental rights. His record just does not show a judge who will uphold equal justice under law. That is why I oppose his confirmation to the Supreme Court. I hope that that my colleagues on this Committee share these concerns, and will join me in voting against Judge Alito’s nomination.” A Vote Against Alito Is a Vote for ProgressThu Jan 19, 09:54 AM
Today Senator Kennedy delivered the following speech at the Center for American Progress. “In evaluating Supreme Court nominees, there is no more important question than whether they are dedicated to equal justice under law. Judge Alito is a highly intelligent man, but his record does not show a judge who is willing to enforce the constitutional limitations on executive power when government officials intrude on individual rights. His record does not show a judge who is open to the claims of vulnerable individuals asking only justice against powerful institutions. His record does not show a judge who upholds the liberty and privacy of citizens seeking to protect their fundamental rights. His record just does not show a judge who is committed to equal justice under law. That is why I oppose his confirmation to the Supreme Court, and I fervently hope that the Senate will do so as well.” Senator Kennedy's Closing Statement at the Alito Confirmation HearingsThu Jan 12, 09:31 AM
“We are not expecting judges to produce particular results in their decisions. But we do expect fairness – for understanding the real world impact of their decisions. Frankly, it would be more comforting if Judge Alito gave individuals the same benefit of the doubt in his courtroom that he’s asking from this Committee over Vanguard, CAP, the unitary executive, and women’s privacy. Now the debate over this nomination continues. In the end, this debate really is about the path of our progress and the kind of America we hope to become. America is noblest when it is just to all of its citizens in equal measure. America is free-est when the rights and liberties of all are respected. America is strongest when all can share fairly in its prosperity.” Senator Kennedy's Opening Statement at the Alito HearingsMon Jan 9, 11:04 AM
“I am gravely concerned by Judge Alito’s clear record of support for vast presidential authority, unchecked by the other two branches of government. In decision after decision on the bench, he has excused abusive actions by the authorities that intrude on the personal privacy and freedoms of average Americans. And in his writings and speeches, he has supported a level of overreaching presidential power that frankly most Americans find disturbing and even frightening. In fact, it is extraordinary that each of the three individuals this President has nominated for the Supreme Court – Chief Justice Roberts, Harriet Miers, and now Judge Alito – has served not only as a lawyer for the Executive Branch, but has defended the most expansive views of presidential authority. Perhaps that is why this President nominated them. But as Justice O’Connor stated, even a state of war is not a “blank check” for a President to do whatever he wants. The Supreme Court must serve as an independent check on abuses by the executive branch, and a protector of our liberties, not as a cheerleader for an imperial presidency. There are other areas of concern. In an era when too many Americans are losing their jobs, or working for less and trying to make ends meet, in close cases Judge Alito has ruled the vast majority of the time against the claims of individual citizens. He has acted instead in favor of the government, large corporations, and other powerful interests. In a study by a well-respected expert, Professor Cass Sunstein of the University of Chicago Law School, Judge Alito was found to rule against the individual in 84 percent of his dissents. To put it plainly, average Americans have had a hard time getting a fair shake in his courtroom. In an era when America is still too often divided by race and by riches, Judge Alito has not written one single opinion on the merits in favor of a person of color alleging race discrimination on the job. In fifteen years on the bench, not one. And when I look at that record in light of his 1985 job application to the Reagan Justice Department, it is even more troubling. That document lays out an ideological agenda that highlights his pride in belonging to an alumni group at Princeton that opposed the admission of women and proposed to curb the admission of racial minorities. It proclaims his legal opinion that the Constitution does not protect the right of women to make their own reproductive decisions. It expresses outright hostility to the basic principle of one person, one vote, affirmed by the Supreme Court as essential to ensuring that all Americans have a voice in their government. This application was not a youthful indiscretion. It was a document prepared by a mature, 35-year-old professional. Finally, many of us are concerned about conflicting statements that Judge Alito has made in response to questions from this Committee and others. As Chairman Specter has stated, this confirmation largely depends on the credibility of Judge Alito’s statements to us. And we have questions.” Alito's Credibility ProblemSat Jan 7, 04:45 PM
Every Supreme Court nominee bears a heavy burden to demonstrate that he or she is committed to the constitutional principles that have been vital in advancing fairness, decency and equal opportunity in our society. As Judge Samuel Alito approaches his confirmation hearings next week, the more we learn about him, the more questions we have about the credibility of his assurances to us. Consider these five areas: 1. 1985 job application : Alito was 35 when he applied for an important political position with Attorney General Ed Meese during the Reagan administration. Alito sought to demonstrate his “philosophical commitment” to Meese’s legal outlook. He wrote that the 1964 Goldwater presidential campaign had been his original political inspiration, even though he was only 14 at the time. His views on the law, he said, were inspired by his “deep disagreement with Warren Court decisions.” He strongly objected to “usurpation by the judiciary” of the powers of the president, and supported the “supremacy” of the elected branches over the judiciary. Not surprisingly, Alito got the job. The views expressed there raise serious concerns about his ability to interpret the Constitution with a fair and open mind. When this embarrassing document came to light, he faced a difficult decision on whether to defend his 1985 views or walk away from them. When I and others met him a short time later, he appeared to be renouncing them—“I was just a 35-year-old seeking a job,” he told me. But now he’s seeking another, far more important job. Is he saying that he did not really mean what he said then? 2. Membership in “Concerned Alumni of Princeton.” In 1972, the year Alito graduated from Princeton University, a group of wealthy alumni formed Concerned Alumni of Princeton (CAP) to resist the growing influx of female, African American, Hispanic and even disabled students who were changing the face of Princeton “as you knew it.” The university’s most famous alumnus of the day, basketball star and later U.S. senator Bill Bradley, was invited into CAP initially but quickly found it “impossible to remain a member” because of CAP’s “right-wing” views. A special committee of alumni, which included future Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, accused CAP of presenting a “distorted and hostile” view of the university. Alito joined CAP about that time, despite its purposes and reputation, and remained a member through 1985, when he cited his CAP membership as another qualification to join the Meese inner circle. In 1987, when he was nominated to be U.S. attorney for New Jersey, and in 1990, when he was nominated for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, he did not mention his CAP membership to the Senate Judiciary Committee or to then-Sen. Bradley, who introduced him to the committee at the nomination hearing and endorsed him “100 percent.” Bradley says today that had he known about Alito’s long membership in CAP he would have had serious questions about it. Alito now says he can’t remember anything at all about CAP. 3. Failure to recuse himself in the Vanguard case : In 1990, during the confirmation process on his nomination to the 3rd Circuit, Alito disclosed that his largest investment was in Vanguard mutual funds. To avoid possible conflicts of interest, he promised us that he would recuse himself from any case involving “the Vanguard companies.” Vanguard continues to be on his recusal list, and his investments in Vanguard funds have risen from tens of thousands of dollars to hundreds of thousands. Nevertheless, in 2002 he failed to recuse himself when assigned to sit on a case in which three Vanguard companies were named parties and listed prominently on every brief and on his own pro-Vanguard opinion in the case. In this case, he and the White House have floated many excuses, but none provided any sensible explanation for his failure to keep his promise or follow his “personal practice” of recusing himself whenever there was any possible ethical question about his participation in a case. 4. His pledge to be absolutely impartial where the government is concerned : While chairing his confirmation hearings in 1990, I asked Alito how he could remain neutral in the cases that would come before him as a 3rd Circuit judge after his more than a dozen years of service representing the U.S. government. He stated that he would be “absolutely impartial” in all his cases. But in case after case involving the actions of U.S. marshals, IRS agents and other government officials, he has sided with the government and against the citizens, even when his fellow judges have told him he was off-base. 5. His promise to leave his personal beliefs behind when he became a judge : That’s what he told me in 1990 he would do. But has he? In November 2000, at one of many Federalist Society meetings he spoke at, he indicated that he was a true believer when it came to the society’s longstanding theory of an all-powerful executive. His endorsement of presidential power and his criticism of the Supreme Court for undermining it made clear that his philosophical commitment in 1985 still drives him. Alito’s words and record must credibly demonstrate that he understands and supports the role of the Supreme Court in upholding the progress we’ve made in guaranteeing that all Americans have an equal chance to take their rightful place in the nation’s future. “Credibility” has rarely been an issue for Supreme Court nominees, but it is clearly a major issue for Alito. Senator Kennedy on the Recess Appointment of Hans von Spakovsky to the FECWed Jan 4, 07:59 PM
“I’m troubled and disappointed by President Bush’s appointment of Hans von Spakovsky to the Federal Election Commission. His record as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights raises serious doubts about his commitment to upholding voting rights for all Americans — a commitment that is essential for anyone appointed to the Commission. Recent reports show that partisan politics in the Civil Rights Division have tainted decisions under the Voting Rights Act. Mr. von Spakovsky participated in these cases, and he may be deeply involved in the political interference that is undermining enforcement of our civil rights laws. By appointing von Spakovsky, the White House missed an opportunity to fill this important position with a person clearly committed to these fundamental rights.” Blue Mass Group has more; Kos has a good rundown as well. [Update]: More here. –Crystal Patterson | Permalink More Answers Needed from Judge Alito on Vanguard CaseMon Dec 5, 02:41 PM
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy sent the following letter to Judge Samuel Alito on his failure to clearly answer why he did not recuse himself from a case involving Vanguard. Rosa Parks - One Woman, A Legacy for AllThu Dec 1, 02:21 PM
Today is the Anniversary of the day Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on the bus. This one brave act has become a powerful symbol of the power one person can have to make change. Senator Kennedy on the Anniversary: “A half a century ago today, Rosa Parks stood up not only for herself, but for her own generation and all future generations of Americans. Her refusal to accept racism and injustice is a continuing inspiration to all of us, and a reminder of how much more must be accomplished to fulfill the great promise of equality.” Getting To Know Judge AlitoWed Nov 16, 08:41 AM
Senator Kennedy met with Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito yesterday. After the meeting, the Senator spoke with reporters and expressed concerns over statements that Alito has made in the past on civil rights, women’s rights, and his conservative views.
Senator Kennedy with Judge Alito outside of the Senator’s office. “Kennedy Voices Concern After Meeting Supreme Court Nominee Alito” – The Boston Globe “Sen. Edward Kennedy, an early and vocal critic of Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, emerged from an hourlong private meeting Tuesday saying he still had serious concerns with Alito’s views on key issues such as abortion and privacy rights. Alito’s abortion views from 20 years ago stoked fresh controversy as he made courtesy calls on Kennedy and other senators on Capitol Hill. ‘I am particularly proud of my contributions in recent cases in which the government argued that racial and ethnic quotas should not be allowed and that the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion,’ Alito wrote in the memo, citing his previous work helping the government prepare cases. Kennedy said Alito, 55, told him he wrote the memo as someone ‘who was interested in getting a job’ in the Justice Department as deputy assistant attorney general. ‘So I asked him, “Why shouldn’t we consider that the answers you are giving today are an application for another job?”’ Kennedy said.” Alito's Statements "Deeply Troubling"Mon Nov 14, 03:07 PM
Senator Kennedy on the release of some of Judge Alito’s documents from his work for President Reagan: “Judge Alito’s extreme statements as an official in the Reagan Administration are deeply troubling. Judge Alito was clearly trying to pass a litmus test to get a promotion in an administration that stood against the march of progress in this country. By his own admission, he was pledging his allegiance against established Supreme Court decisions on voting rights, a woman’s constitutional right to privacy, and civil and individual liberties. This may explain why the right wing expressed such enthusiastic support for Judge Alito after campaigning against Harriet Miers. When he comes before the Senate, Judge Alito faces a heavy burden of demonstrating that he no longer holds these extremely troubling views and would bring an open mind and a real commitment to fundamental rights and freedoms if the Senate confirms him for the Supreme Court. Judge Alito has an extensive record from which we can determine whether he retained those extreme views during his 15 years as an appellate judge. Although we are still reviewing that record, some of the decisions we have already seen may indicate that he does. His willingness to allow a warrantless strip search of a 10 year old girl, to support an employer’s unreasonable restrictions on sick leave, and to interpose barriers to justice for civil rights and environmental claims will face tough scrutiny when he comes before the Committee.” “Alito documents suggest strong abortion stand” – MSNBC “Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito wrote back in 1985 that he was proud of his Reagan-era work helping the government argue that “the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion,” documents showed Monday. Alito, who was applying in 1985 to become deputy assistant attorney general in the Reagan administration, said in a document that he was proud of his work in the solicitor general’s office from 1982-1985, where he helped “to advance legal positions in which I personally believe very strongly.” “I am particularly proud of my contributions in recent cases in which the government argued that racial and ethnic quotas should not be allowed and that the Constitution does not protect a right to an abortion,” he said. “ Investigating Detainee TreatmentTue Nov 8, 11:06 AM
“By refusing to act like the truth is important, the Administration is only making the crisis worse, further embarrassing the nation in the eyes of the world, and casting greater doubt on its commitment to the rule of law. We will not be able to move past this scandal as a nation until there is full independent investigation of all that has gone wrong in our detention and interrogation policy, and all the persons found responsible for these shameful policies are held accountable.” The CIA's Secret PrisonsWed Nov 2, 02:31 PM
“The recent sordid revelation of the CIA’s shameful secret detention sites in other countries is further distressing proof of the Bush Administration’s utter contempt for the rule of law and a severe new blow to our respect in the world community. The White House obviously learned nothing from Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. Vice President Cheney’s irresponsible proposal to exempt the CIA from John McCain’s prohibition on abusing detainees is an obvious attempt to make Congress compliant in these notorious abuses, and the Senate and House should categorically reject it. The use of secret detention centers around the world is an ugly insult to America’s ideals that can only make the war on terrorism harder to win.” Kennedy Letter to Rumsfeld on Guantanamo DetaineesWed Nov 2, 02:25 PM
“I strongly oppose the Administration’s decision to limit access to the UN Special Rapporteurs who sought to meet with detainees at Guantanamo Bay, and urge you to reconsider your support for it. The decision clearly jeopardizes America’s leadership in enforcing basic standards of human rights against other countries, and undermines our efforts to persuade other nations to accept international inspectors to ensure compliance with other international agreements. The clear implication of the decision is that America has something to hide. An inspection by the UN group could demonstrate to the world our willingness to live by our principles, and could be a major step to improving America’s standing in the eyes of the world. I am appalled as well by your cavalier and dismissive comments yesterday about the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. Such comments only serve to demonstrate the administration’s continuing misjudgment of the gravity of the detainee situation and its harmful effect on America’s standing in the world. “ Senator Kennedy Delivers A Eulogy for Rosa ParksMon Oct 31, 11:15 AM
“Last night the nation paused to pay tribute to Rosa Parks, whose life and dedication to equal opportunity for each and every American will be forever written in the heart and souls of the nation and in the pages of our history. The light that shone in the Capitol last night cast its beams across the country. The tears of the Parks’ family were the tears of a nation that will remain eternally in the debt to this great woman who became a profile in courage for our time and all time.” Senator Kennedy recorded a radio actuality on the passing of Rosa Parks. To access the recording, please dial 1-800-511-0763, code: 4776. You can also access the audio as an mp3 file by going to www.demradio.senate.gov. Kennedy on the Nomination of Judge Samuel Alito to the Supreme CourtMon Oct 31, 08:09 AM
“Rather than selecting a nominee for the good of the nation and the court, President Bush has picked a nominee whom he hopes will stop the massive hemorrhaging of support on his right wing. This is a nomination based on weakness, not on strength. After insisting that Harriet Miers shouldn’t even get a hearing because she couldn’t prove she was extreme enough, the far right has now forced the President to choose a nominee that they think has views as extreme as their own. There are many serious questions about whether Judge Alito is a mainstream nominee fit to fill the seat of Justice O’Connor. She was able to unite and strengthen our country through her careful, non-ideological approach to the law.” |
 
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“As we all know, there’s been a revolution in civil rights since the 1960’s, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a major part of it. I’ve been proud to be part of the great battles in Congress from the beginning, and we’ve been vigilant to protect the Voting Rights Act ever since.” 
“As the Senate begins debate today on a constitutional flag burning amendment, Americans must be asking themselves why their representatives in Washington are spending time on this divisive issue rather than taking on the serious challenges they face every day such as gas prices, health care costs, and a costly and enduring war. The sad, but inescapable answer is that our Republican leaders’ priorities are being driven by election year politics. Watering down the Bill of Rights will not address any real problem. I am second to no one in condemning those who would burn the flag, but I believe this amendment is a purely symbolic act, designed to agitate and divide our nation.” 
The American people are looking to all of us in Congress for help on the enormous challenges we face as a nation – the war in Iraq, threats to our national security, skyrocketing gas prices, soaring health care costs, preparations for the new hurricane season, and so many other urgent issues. They want Congress to concentrate on these real threats facing American families today. With the defeat of this so-called Federal Marriage Amendment, the Senate can turn back to the urgent priorities facing America today.
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy joined over 200,000 people for a rally supporting his plan for comprehensive immigration reform. Demonstrations took place across the country, in 65 cities, for the “National Day of Action for Immigrant Justice”. Last week, comprehensive immigration legislation spearheaded by Senators Kennedy and McCain fell short of the votes needed to move forward. Leaders in the labor, business and religious community came together in an unprecedented way to meet this challenge and Senator Kennedy has vowed to continue his fight for tough, fair legislation that deals with our national security and economic challenges in a way that is consistent with our values and the American Dream. 
The Kennedy-McCain plan combines tough enforcement measures that will protect our borders and increase national security and provide a path to earned citizenship. Demonstrators from coast to coast are demanding humane immigration solutions that provide a path to citizenship, unite families, deal with the future flow of immigrants in a legal and compassionate way, and ensure workplace and civil rights protections, all of which are included the Kennedy-McCain plan for comprehensive immigration reform. 
“We want to get this legislation done. So we certainly want to try and find common ground right up until the very end. I’ll certainly work in any way. I know others are thinking and working hard on it. This is, as has been pointed out by every speaker, too important a piece of legislation to let slip by. It’s too important. But I’m proud of the proposal that is before the Senate. I think it is the result of a great deal of thought and examination by a variety of our different colleagues from all parts of the country and with all different kinds of constituents. When you get an issue that is volatile as this and you have 12-6 and you have the kind of bipartisanship reflected in this, recognizing that those of us who support this proposal understand it’s a total kind of an approach to the challenge. These single-shot approaches have not worked. Let’s just try here in the United States Senate to give an opportunity for this comprehensive approach, which is meaningful in terms of our national security, is enormously important in terms of economic progress, and most importantly is a reflection of our humanitarian values. Let’s give that a chance. That is what we are hoping, and I hope the senate will give us that opportunity to do so.” 
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy joined over 300 hotel workers from more than thirty states at Union Station for a rally on much needed immigration reform to secure our borders and strengthen our economy. The Kennedy-McCain plan to fix our broken immigration system has received strong diverse backing by business and labor groups, Republicans and Democrats, religious groups and immigration advocates because of its commonsense approach to both strengthen border protection and our economy by offering a pathway to citizenship. 
In addition to UNITE HERE, over 60 groups have endorsed the bill, ranging from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition to the Service Employees International Union. The plan has received over 60 positive editorials from newspapers across the country, many touting its realistic approach of both strengthen border protection and enforcement while reflecting our best values as a nation—of fairness, equal opportunity, and respect for the law. 
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy sent the below letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) seeking clarification on the costs associated with implementing “don’t ask, don’t tell.” The policy, created in 1993, bans overt homosexuality in the military. 
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