Commonwealth Connection November 6 2011

SUNACRW is encouraging the public to attend a vigil in the Sunbury Park on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 6:30 pm sponsored by the SUN Area Council of Republican Women.

A resolution passed by SUNACRW will be read and petitions will be available for anyone wishing to show their support for the Servanos.  For information or questions, please call 570-541-8697.

On September 1st SUNACRW unanimously passed the following resolution is support of traditional marriage.  We have submitted the same resolution to PFRW for consideration at next week’s annual convention.

MARRIAGE

Whereas throughout the history of the world marriage has been recognized exclusively as between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and

Whereas by the recognition of marriage the state grants special benefits for spouses, and

Whereas the institution of marriage provides society with the specific benefit of its stable continuation, and

Whereas the institution of marriage is highly regulated; and as such, it is not now, nor has it been a universal right for all persons, and

Whereas sexual love has never been accepted as the sole criteria for defining marriage, let it be

Resolved that the Pennsylvania Federation of Republican Women promotes marriage as the union of one man and one woman as husband and wife, and be it further

Resolved that the Pennsylvania Federation of Republican Women confirms its support for the Republican Party position on marriage as articulated in the 2008 Republican Party platform, “Because our children’s future is best preserved within the traditional understanding of marriage, we call for a constitutional amendment that fully protects marriage as a union of a man and a woman, so that judges cannot make other arrangements equivalent to it. In the absence of a national amendment, we support the right of the people of the various states to affirm traditional marriage through state initiatives.”

“Republicans have been at the forefront of protecting traditional marriage laws, both in the states and in Congress. A Republican Congress enacted the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of states not to recognize same-sex marriages licensed in other states. Unbelievably, the Democratic Party has now pledged to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, which would subject every state to the redefinition of marriage by a judge without ever allowing the people to vote on the matter.We also urge Congress to use its Article III, Section 2 power to prevent activist federal judges from imposing upon the rest of the nation the judicial activism in Massachusetts and California.”

SUNACRW formally reaffirmed its committment to assist Pedro and Salva Servano in their quest for citizenship when it passed a resolution calling upon our elected officials to intervene on their behalf.

Pedro and Salvacion Servano

Over the past several years, the immigration act has become a wedge issue with political issues. There are those who are abusing those rules, and those who have sought the proper channels and seem to be caught in catch 22 in the system.  One case involves the Servano family of Selinsgrove, PA. It had received national attention throughout 2007 when then U.S.  Senator Arlen Spector advocated for their cause. The Servano family continues in legal limbo to this day. See attached, “The Servano Story . . . “

WHEREAS, Pedro and Salvacion applied for visas for the United States of America in 1978, while they were still single individuals, and

WHEREAS, during the waiting time and visa process Pedro and Salvacion Servano married in 1980, and

WHEREAS, Salvacion was granted a visa in 1982 and legally came to the USA, and

WHEREAS, in 1984 Pedro was granted a visa and joined his wife Salvacion in the USA, and

WHEREAS, Pedro earned a degree as a medical doctor and Salvacion earned a degree as a nurse. They have been working in America and paying taxes. Pedro has been providing medical care to Americans, including those other doctors would not accept. Pedro has worked at Geisinger Medical Center for 17 years. Salvacion is currently working part-time at Grayson Assisted Living Center and operating a family store in Sunbury, and

WHEREAS, they purchased homes and established successful businesses in America and have four children who were raised in America and are natural born U.S. citizens. Their children Shappine is 28 and works in Philadelpia; Steven is 26 and a sophomore student at Howard Taft Law School in Santa Ana, CA; Peter is 19 and taking courses for Physical Therapy at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County, MD; and Phoebe is 17 and a senior at Selinsgrove High School, and

WHEREAS, in 1990 Pedro and Salvacion Servano applied for US citizenship and were notified by an immigration official that their visa application listed them as single. They were accused of lying and misrepresenting their marital status and dismissed, and

WHEREAS, Pedro and Salvacion Servano have not broken any laws, and

WHEREAS, Pedro and Salvacion Servano have followed the procedure to obtain rightful legal status in the U.S. and the hope of citizenship in that they waited the time involved and were apart for two years as one was granted access before the other, and

WHEREAS, Pedro and Salvacion have given back to the United States of America through their professions and businesses, and

WHEREAS, Pedro and Salvacion have raised their children to be proud Americans and to be involved in community and civic activities as part of their patriotic duty, and

WHEREAS, Pedro and Salvacion have lived their lives in limbo for the past 21 years, not sure what is going to happen to them or if they will be separated from their family, and

WE RESOLVE THAT, consideration be given to Pedro and Salvacion Servano due to the complexity and uniqueness of their case.

WE RESOLVE THAT, there was no intention to misrepresent their marital status and commend this couple for taking marriage vows and their strong commitment to each other.

WE RESOLVE THAT, copies of this resolution be submitted to members of Pennsylvania’s delegation to the U.S. House and Senate.

WE RESOLVE THAT, a bill be presented from the House of Representatives and the Senate of the United States of America that will provide Pedro and Salvacion Servano U.S. citizenship.

SUNACRW July 2011 Newsletter