Immigration Bill 2013: On Fundraising Tour For Democrats, Obama Mixes In Push For Reform

President Barack Obama kicked off on Sunday a string of public appearances in cities on the West Coast as part of a fundraising tour for the Democratic National Committee and House and Senate Democrats, during which he'll be mixing in a continued push for immigration reform. According to the Associated Press, Obama will press lawmakers in the House to move on immigration bills after the chamber's GOP leadership said it would not conference House legislation with the comprehensive overhaul passed by the Senate in June.

The president began his tour in Seattle yesterday, where he was joined by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, whom he said should be House Speaker again. The AP writes that Obama attempted to contrast himself with the GOP majority in the House of Representatives, saying they were "more focused on positioning themselves for the next election" than working to pass a reform of the nation's immigration system. House Republican leadership has written five bills dealing with various aspects of the issue - though none, as of yet, which touch on the question of citizenship or legalization for undocumented immigrants, a key tenet for Democrats but one which much of the Republican majority appears loathe to support - but have not scheduled any for a vote.

On Monday, the president was scheduled to speak at the Betty Ann Ong Chinese Recreation Center in San Francisco, which serves a largely Chinese community - the administration says 25 percent of the foreign-born population in the United States in 2011 hails from Asian countries, while Asian immigrants comprise 11 percent of the 11.7 million undocumented immigrants residing in the United States. In addition to his appearance at the recreation center, the president is set to appear at three other fundraisers in San Francisco and Los Angeles on Monday, including one event held at the home of Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the former NBA star for the Los Angeles Lakers and current co-owner of the Dodgers.

RELATED: Vice President Joe Biden Visits Immigrant Activists On National Mall On 11th Day Of Hunger Strike