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CCUSA Responds to Failed Congressional Effort to Address Immigration
Kerry Alys Robinson, President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, issued the following statement concerning Congress’s failure to pass the bi-partisan Senate immigration reform bill recently considered in the U.S. Senate.
Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) commends Sens. James Lankford (R-OK), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) for their efforts to put forth broad, bipartisan reforms of our country’s immigration system — something we have called on Congress and presidential administrations of both parties to undertake for decades. While the proposed legislation contains both provisions we support and some we oppose, we also recognize that successful, meaningful reform requires compromise. And yet, before our team even had completed a thorough review of this bill, political dysfunction already had eliminated any real chance for this effort to receive serious consideration from the full Congress.
Sadly, this is the latest in a long line of examples of crippling polarization getting in the way of desperately needed progress in Washington. Compromise should be celebrated, not demonized.
As we have done for decades, including in a letter to congressional leaders today, CCUSA will continue to emphasize the urgent need for serious, bipartisan reforms that prioritize the security of the border and the human dignity of those on both sides of it. Without those reforms, our immigration system will remain broken, and the Catholic Charities network will remain committed to providing critical humanitarian aid to those in need who arrive at our doorsteps.
Regardless of your position on immigration, I hope we can all agree that the issue needs to be addressed and that compromise will be necessary to get something meaningful done.
MO Supreme Court Chief Delivers “State of Judiciary” Address
Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Russell delivered the State of the Judiciary address this week to a joint session of the Missouri House and Senate. In her remarks, she talked about the hard work done by judges and their staff around the state, and thanked them for their service to their communities.
She raised concerns about the number of inmates with mental health issues, including those in the juvenile system, stating that prisons aren’t set up to be mental health facilities or treatment centers for inmates with drug addiction. She called upon all branches of government, along with private and not-for-profit organizations, to work together to address these needs.
Missouri House Committee Hears Senior “Circuit Breaker” Tax Credit Bills
The Missouri House Special Committee on Property Taxes recently heard two bills to revise Missouri’s “Circuit Breaker” tax credit program that provides tax relief to seniors who face increased property taxes as a result of rising property values. The program offers a property tax rebate to low-income seniors who own or rent their homes, helping them remain in their homes as fixed incomes fail to keep up with property taxes levied on more expensive homestead and rental properties. CCSTL testified in support of both HB 1428, sponsored by Rep. Mike McGirl (R-Pitosi), and HB 1670, sponsored by Rep. Mark Matthiesson (R-O’Fallon), which would revise the program to make the credit accessible to more seniors. This week, the committee voted HB 1428 “do pass”, keeping the issue alive for further consideration.
We will continue reporting on the legislation we are working on as the legislative process unfolds. Stay tuned.
Deacon Tyler
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