[RECORDING] Rep. Val Demings Joined Business, Civic, Community Leaders, and Elected Officials in Urging Sens. Rubio and Scott to Support Bipartisan Immigration Solutions
Link to recording here: https://bit.ly/2SKVtHa
ORLANDO, FL — Business, civic, community leaders, and elected officials from Central Florida urged Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) to support bipartisan immigration solutions that expand the region’s workforce, bring certainty to families and employers, and help our economy roar back from the pandemic. The Florida Thriving! Orlando Business Immigration Roundtable took place on Saturday, June 19 at the Hotel Meliá Orlando Celebration. See quotes below.
The event, convened by the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida and the IMPAC Fund (the Florida Chapter of the American Business Immigration Coalition), featured Rep. Val Demings (D-FL), former Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and representatives of several chambers of commerce as well as Venezuelan leaders and immigration advocates. For a link to recording click here: https://bit.ly/2SKVtHa
The diverse set of speakers discussed the urgency of passing bipartisan immigration solutions that are essential for our economy and workforce. We heard remarks about how Dreamers, TPS Holders, and Farmworkers are contributing to our state’s most important industries and how our U.S. Senators Rubio and Scott can lead on legislation that can help Florida thrive. There are over 490,000 immigrants residing in Central Florida who pay over $3 billion in local, state, and federal taxes, and have a spending power of over $10 billion.
Rep. Val Demings CD-10 said this during the event: “We need to get serious about having legislation that creates a clear path for people who risked their lives to experience the American dream to become U.S. citizens…We need to make sure that we are protecting our Dreamers…America is the only home that they know.” Regarding providing a path to citizenship to TPS holders, Rep. Val Demings said: “If we say we are going to do something for you, that we are going to pass legislation to protect you and the people that you love…Don’t just listen to what we say, watch what we do and hold us accountable.”
William Diaz, Founder, Casa de Venezuela, said: “I feel I’ve been ignored by the office of my dear friend Senator Rick Scott. We, the network of Casas de Venezuela, requested a meeting with him several months ago without luck. When he was running as well as before Trump lost, Mr. Scott was always there for us. I don’t understand why he’s avoiding us now. In regard to Senator Rubio, I would like to remind him that just in Central Florida there are around 38,000 Venezuelan-Americans, and we vote. Mr. Scott is proof of that.”
Luis Gutierrez, Former Illinois U.S. Representative (D-IL), said: “There is no doubt Democrats are ready to approve the SECURE Act. 20 members of the Senate have already proposed it and introduced it. But not one Republican? Even in the state of Florida that Rick Scott supposedly represents, that Marco Rubio supposedly represents? Demand that Rubio sign onto the SECURE Act. Demand that Rick Scott fulfills his commitment as a senator of all Floridians not just the ones who voted for him. Allow hundreds of thousands of people in the United States of America to finally breathe free. It’s nice, temporary status, it protects you from deportation and gives you a work permit. Do you know what people want? They want permanency.”
Kathy Bird Carvajal, Executive Director, IMPAC Fund (Florida Chapter of ABIC) The window for bipartisanship is closing rapidly, and the time for action is now. That’s why Florida business, civic, and community leaders and elected officials are all calling for Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott to cosponsor the SECURE Act. Not doing so will threaten our state’s long-term economic well being, and undermine our recovery.”
ABOUT
IMPAC Fund is the Florida chapter of the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) which promotes common sense 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. For more information go to impacfund.org.
The American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) promotes common sense 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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