ABIC Business Leaders Launch National Week of Action in Support of Bipartisan Immigration Solutions
AUSTIN, TX — With the window rapidly closing for Congress to pass bipartisan immigration solutions, the American Business Immigration Coalition is launching a week of action to support immigration solutions to reignite the U.S. economy and strengthen our workforce as we recover from the pandemic. These solutions include the Durbin-Graham Dream Act, the Crapo-Bennet companion legislation to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, and the SECURE Act.
On Tuesday, ABIC submitted testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee which held a hearing on the American Dream and Promise Act (H.R. 6), which would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, and children of H-1B holders who are aging out of status.
Following up on the hearing, ABIC — which represents more than 1,200 CEOs and business associations across 15 states — will host several virtual and in-person events across the country this week to push for bipartisan immigration solutions like the American Dream and Promise Act. Events will be held in Indiana, Texas, Florida and Maine, where U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is scheduled to speak to business, faith, education, and civic leaders.
“The time for bipartisanship on immigration is now. Passing bipartisan immigration solutions that legalize Dreamers, farm workers, and TPS workers is economically important, morally right, and politically smart,” said John Rowe, Exelon Chairman Emeritus and ABIC Co-Chair. “At this critical junction in the congressional negotiations, the ABIC business community is calling on at least 10 Republican senators to join every Democrat to advance immigration reform now. Doing so would boost our economy by $1.7 trillion dollars over the next decade, raise wages for workers, create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, strengthen families, and help us rebuild from this pandemic.”
Members of the media are invited to cover the following events:
INDIANA (virtual)
Description: Hear from business leaders from across Indiana about the urgent need for Senate action on the Crapo-Bennet companion legislation to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, the Durbin-Graham Dream Act, and the SECURE Act. Each of these bills recognizes the vital and growing contributions immigrants make to Indiana’s economy and communities.
When: Wednesday, June 16 at 10 am EST. Ok
Register here: http://bit.ly/ABICIndiana
MAINE (virtual)
Growing Maine – Bipartisan Immigration Solutions 2021
Description: Join Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and local business, faith, education and civic leaders from across Maine to discuss bipartisan immigration solutions that expand our workforce, bring certainty to families and employers, and help our economy grow.
When: Friday, June 18 at 12 PM EDT
Register here: http://bit.ly/GrowingMaine
TEXAS (in person)
McAllen-Edinburg Workforce Roundtable and Press Conference
Description: Join Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Dr. Guy Bailey, IBC Bank and others for an interactive roundtable discussion addressing federal immigration solutions for Dreamers. This roundtable discussion will focus on what business, higher-education, and civic leaders can do to support sensible immigration solutions for these workers.
When: Friday, June 18 starting at 8 AM CST: Roundtable from 8 a.m. to 915 CST / Press Conference from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 am CST
Location: UTRGV Performing Arts Center, 1201 W. University Dr., Edinburg, Texas
Register here: https://bit.ly/UTRGV-WORKFORCE
FLORIDA (in person)
Florida Thriving! Orlando Business Immigration Roundtable
Description: We will discuss how we can come together to move bipartisan immigration solutions that are essential for our economy and workforce. We will hear about how Dreamers, TPS Holders, and Farmworkers are contributing to Florida’s most important industries and how our U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) can lead on legislation that can help Florida thrive.
Location: Meliá Orlando Celebration hotel located at 225 Celebration PL, Celebration, FL 34747
Time: Saturday, June 19: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST
Register here: To reserve a spot please email Arianny Eduardo at aramos@americanbic.biz
ABIC as been holding several high-profile bipartisan immigration forums since December of 2020, including one last week titled Intermountain Rising: Strengthening our Workforce Through Bipartisan Immigration Solutions that featured Democratic U.S. Senator Michael Bennet (CO) and Republican Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-02), along with agricultural, business, education, and civic leaders from Utah, Colorado, Idaho and Arizona.
About
The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) promotes commonsense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens.