The Protecting Immigrant Families Coalition (PIF) is hosting a Week of Action from May 1 to May 5 to urge Congress to enact the “Lifting Immigrant Families through Benefits Access Restoration Act” (“LIFT the BAR Act”). PIF recently released a partner toolkit and announced a webinar and office hours to prepare for the Week of Action. The bill would lift an arbitrary five-year waiting period for immigrants to access vital healthcare and social service programs. For 25 years, the “five-year bar” has denied lawfully present immigrant families of color access to critical health and social services.
The recently released partner toolkit provides measures to educate lawmakers about the five-year bar, including key resources, customizable social media posts, and a congressional meeting guide. PIF will host an informational webinar on Thursday, April 27, at 1 pm ET concerning the five-year bar and its background, its impact on immigrant families, and why Congress must remove the bar. PIF staff will also discuss the upcoming Week of Action as well as ways participants can get involved to help remove the bar and bring about the reintroduction of the Lift the Bar Act. Finally, PIF is hosting office hours on April 17 and April 19 to help advocates prepare for the Week of Action.
The LIFT the BAR Act was introduced in the 117th Congress by Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Tony Cárdenas (D-CA). A companion bill (S.4311) was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and cosponsors Cory Booker (D-NJ), Patty Murray (D-WA), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). NLIHC and PIF have consistently supported the LIFT the BAR Act and other efforts to ensure that immigrant populations have access to vital housing and public health programs.
PIF’s Week of Action will include several opportunities to urge support for the LIFT the BAR Act. Advocates can commit to the Week of Action and learn more using this form: https://bit.ly/3ntNqxn
Learn more about the “five-year bar” at: https://bit.ly/40QYJxU
Register for the April 17th, 1 pm ET, office hours at: https://bit.ly/3ocHPvM
Register for the April 19th, 2 pm ET, office hours at: https://bit.ly/43yZ62j
Commit to PIF’s Week of Action using this form: https://bit.ly/3ntNqxn