Hmong National Development, Inc.

The bill has five major components (providing choice of coverage options, cost reduction, prevention, health system modernization, and long term care and services) and addresses each issue through a variety of proposals and initiatives. The bill also offers a package of reforms to the individual and group insurance market which would end some discriminatory practices such as using health status, gender, disability, preexisting conditions and type of work to determine premium rates. 

The legislation includes an option to establish "Health Benefit Gateways" in every state, which would provide eligible individuals and businesses greater access to affordable, quality health insurance by providing a marketplace in which they could shop for qualified health plans including a public health plan option. Low- and moderate-income people (earning up to 500% of the federal poverty line) participating in the Gateway would receive subsidies on a sliding scale to help offset the cost of coverage; however, certain categories of immigrants would be ineligible for subsidies.

Reuniting Families Act Introduced in the House and Senate

On June 4, Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), along with Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-CA) and Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), reintroduced the Reuniting Families Act. This important piece of legislation contains practical solutions for allocating visas more efficiently, alleviating lengthy wait times that keep families separated for years, and decreasing measures that prevent close family members from obtaining visas.  The bill is identical to its Senate counterpart introduced by Senator Menendez last month except that it includes provisions for eliminating discrimination in immigration law against same-sex permanent partners and their families who are seeking to reunite. The Senate Judiciary Committee held its first-ever hearing early this month on the need for justice for bi-national same-sex partners.

There are currently 5.8 million people in the family immigration backlog, and nearly half originate from Asian countries. Family members in China, India, and the Philippines face some of the longest waiting periods--sometimes waiting up to 22 years before reuniting with their loved ones.

President Obama Nominates First Ever Latina to Sit on U.S. Supreme Court

On May 26, President Obama announced his nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the Supreme Court vacancy left by Justice David Souter's retirement. If confirmed, Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic and only the third woman ever to hold a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sotomayor, the daughter of Puerto Rican parents, was raised in a Bronx public housing project. Sotomayor's life experiences and impressive public service career as a prosecutor, federal judge on the U.S. District Court, and appellate judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, allow her to fully appreciate the "real-world consequences" of the decisions she makes from the bench. The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin confirmation hearings on July 13.