Briefing with Sen. Bob Menendez, Chief Senate Sponsor of Biden’s Immigration Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier today, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), the Chief Senate Sponsor of President Biden’s immigration bill, spoke with over 2000 business, labor, faith leaders, and immigration advocates about the new administration’s immigration bill. A recording of the webinar can be found here.
President Biden unveiled an immigration bill on day one to modernize our immigration system, help our nation recover and rebuild from the pandemic. Sen. Menendez was introduced by former Congressman Luis Gutierrez.
The event was hosted by the American Business Immigration Coalition along with our partners: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Immigration HUB, National Immigration Law Center, UNITE HERE, CHIRLA, NYIC, CASA and SEIU.
An earned path to citizenship for 11 million people would boost the country’s GDP by $1.5 trillion over 10 years. As newly legalized immigrants enter the labor force, they will increase the “wage floor” for American workers, support 750,000 to 900,000 American jobs, open new businesses, and increase employment opportunities for all. A new poll by Fox News released on election day found that more than 70% of Americans — 91% Biden supporters and over half of Trump voters — support legal status for undocumented immigrants.
Sen. Menendez, Chief Senate Sponsor of Biden’s Immigration Bill, said:
“I am proud to be the chief sponsor of the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 in the United States Senate. And I know that President Biden and Vice President Harris understand the importance of getting this done. It makes a difference when you have leadership that is willing to put real political capital on the table for this cause, and who understands that immigration reform is in the moral, economic, and best interests of our country. It will take all of us to get this done, including Democrats and Republicans, the business community, faith and labor leaders, and immigration advocates, but I am optimistic that together we can get this done.
Former representative Luis Gutierrez and ABIC Board Member said:
“It’s time we have justice for our immigrants and that this country makes immigration reform a top priority. Throughout the pandemic our immigrant communities never stopped working, proving again their essential role to our nation’s economy. Our nation depends on immigrants’ labor. It’s time we create an immigration system that brings the 11 million in the shadows towards a pathway to citizenship and the American Dream.”
John Rowe, Chairman Emeritus, Exelon Corporation and ABIC Co-Chair:
“The business community will do its part to work with elected officials from both parties to support immigration solutions that celebrate and welcome immigrants, who are critical for our economic prosperity as we rebuild and recover from the pandemic. If your labor feeds, builds and cares for our nation, you have earned the right to stay here.”
Rebecca Shi, Executive Director of ABIC, said the following:
“Federal immigration reform will help our country rebuild and recover from the Covid 19 pandemic. We welcome the Biden administration’s decision to make immigration reform a priority. Undocumented immigrants, the majority of whom have lived here for decades, are on the frontlines fighting this pandemic, caring for the sick, the elderly, picking up crops, processing meat and so much more. Legalizing undocumented immigrants would boost the economy’s GDP by $1.5 trillion, and increase wages for American workers. Americans know this. That’s why, across the board, they want immigration solutions, not gridlock and political games.”
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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.
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