Congress is getting ready to debate comprehensive immigration reform.

Members of Congress are discussing the issue behind closed doors and the White House is polishing its principles for public release. As the new Congress took office last week, the talk in Washington -- besides the politically created fiscal crisis -- was immigration.

"By-and-large, the United States is a nation of immigrants," proclaimed House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, during the opening speech of Congress' new term. "Built, enriched and strengthened by men, women and children who share our patriotism and seek the American dream. The strength of our democracy will be advanced by bold action for comprehensive immigration reform."

Under a rules change set to take effect on March 4, the Obama Administration will for the first time allow certain spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens to remain in the country while a portion of the paperwork for their green cards is processed. To qualify, the U.S. citizen must show "extreme hardship" if forced to remain separated from a spouse or child. Typical examples include U.S. citizens who are sick or disabled and are being cared for or supported by their immigrant spouse or parent.

The move could affect some 1 million undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. "The administration deserves credit for moving ahead in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform from Congress," said SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Eliseo Medina.

On Wednesday night, President Obama signed into law the bill that averts tax increases on most Americans, raises more than $620 billion in revenue and extends unemployment benefits.

Throughout these negotiations, 423 U.S. Representatives received at least one letter from an SEIU member or activist, and most received many more.

Thousands of SEIU members and activists also made phone calls or made the trip to Washington, D.C. to tell Congress in person: keep the focus on "Jobs, Not Cuts" to the vital services working families depend on.

Late this evening, the House passed--and sent to President Obama's desk--legislation to avert tax increases on most Americans and extend unemployment benefits. The final vote on the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012" was 257-167, with 172 Democrats and 85 Republicans voting in favor of the bill. The bill passed a Senate vote with an 89-8 margin earlier in the day.

Following the vote, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry issued a statement, praising the President, Majority Leader Reid and Leader Pelosi for their indispensable leadership in mitigating the right wing's extremist agenda to reach a deal to avert the fiscal cliff. "This deal is the right move to protect America's middle class families, who were facing a New Year with higher taxes, and to prevent two million Americans from losing their unemployment benefits," said Henry.

Holiday well-wishes from SEIU's International officers to you:

Fred Anthony is a security officer in Minneapolis.

He and thousands of other officers and janitors in the Twin Cities are fighting to build good jobs as they negotiate a new contract for people who protect and clean the area's office buildings.

"The workers of this country are the people who ... keep the engine running," says Fred. "But for the workers to do all the work, and for the owners and the 1% and the CEOs to be greedy and hold onto so much money and not give back, not reinvest - it's very frustrating."

You can find out more about how workers like Fred are fighting for a better Minnesota at SEIU26.org.

Can you imagine a world where House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) gets his way on the budget?

Watch AFSCME's special Boehnerville edition of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" for a holiday-themed glimpse into a world where the rich won't pay their fair share; Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are put at risk; and the economic recovery begins to falter.

The SEIU family is mourning the loss of a dedicated public servant and educator, Victoria Soto.

First grade teacher Victoria Soto, daughter of SEIU Local 511 Safety Steward Carlos Soto, was among the first to respond to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown CT. She quickly tried to move students into hiding, but she paid with her life.

On Dec. 10, I joined other members of SEIU Virginia 512 and went to Tysons Corner mall and Sen. Mark Warner's office to make sure people heard our message about what we need from our government.

The debate over the "fiscal cliff" is too important for people like me not to get involved. I'm particularly concerned about Congress cutting Medicaid and giving more tax cuts to the wealthy.

A lot of wealthier people have retirement savings and can afford full healthcare benefits. They have their own plans for the future. Medicare and Medicaid help the people who are less fortunate and who really need it.

SEIU and its partners are making it clear that it won't be a wonderful life for the vast majority of Americans if John Boehner's vision for America is realized in the coming weeks. A new ad entitled "Boehnerville," now running nationally, paints the bleak picture of what faces the U.S. if education is cut and Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are put at risk.

The ad asks calls on people to call their member of congress to urge them to protect Medicare and Social Security, while also voting to make the rich pay their fair share. Watch it here: