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August 9, 2021

CONTACT: 

Gebe Martinez | gmartinez@americanbic.biz | (703-731-9505)

REPUBLICAN BUSINESS AND CIVIC LEADERS SEND LETTER TO PRESIDENT BIDEN AND CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS URGING INCLUSION OF IMMIGRATION REFORMS IN BUDGET RECONCILIATION 

ABIC GOP members call for immediate approval of path to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS permit holders, farmworkers, and essential workers for the sake of our economy and families 

WASHINGTON, DC — The bipartisan American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) released on Monday a letter to President Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, signed by 15 Republican ABIC members in support of immediate action on immigration reform through the budget reconciliation process.

ABIC supports the inclusion of paths to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers, and essential workers, which would boost federal, state, and local tax revenues by $31 billion annually as part of yearly economic growth of $121 billion if Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers, and undocumented essential workers were U.S. citizens.

The letter points to the Senate’s inability to forge bipartisan compromise as the reason common sense immigration solutions must be passed through reconciliation.

“As Republican business and civic leaders of the bipartisan American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), we wish to issue our strong support for the inclusion of common sense immigration solutions in the budget reconciliation legislation. We prefer bipartisanship but if reconciliation is moving forward, we urge you to include sensible immigration solutions to grow our national GDP (Gross Domestic Product), spur job growth, and raise the wage floor for all Americans. 

“In recent months, ABIC met with 41 Republican senators and held 47 public events with Republican and Democrat Senators in support of a bipartisan deal. We heard encouraging words — agreement that action is desperately needed — but, unfortunately, this did not translate to a bipartisan compromise,” the letter states.

“Reconciliation offers the best opportunity in years to legalize Dreamers, TPS recipients, farmworkers, and essential workers. Immigrants and employers who depend on them deserve legislation that would bring certainty to their lives and businesses after years of existing in legal limbo. This is not only morally right, it is vital for our economy. There is an undeniable economic need for these immigration provisions.”

During recent ABIC forums, lawmakers have heard from Dreamers, farmworkers, and others who have waited with frustration and worry for years for the opportunity to legalize their status. At those same forums, faith and civic leaders, and owners of businesses small and large shared the critical need to fix the immoral and broken immigration system that Congress has avoided repairing for decades. The last  far-reaching immigration reform was enacted 35 years ago.

“As our ABIC leaders state, it is time for Congress to do its job. Voters across the political spectrum and from all regions of the country understand that immigration reform with earned paths to legalization and citizenship is good for all Americans and for our economy, ”  said Rebecca Shi, Executive Director of ABIC. “It’s time for Congress to get the message,” Shi added.

The full text of the letter follows:

“Dear President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leaders McConnnell and McCarthy,

As Republican business and civic leaders of the bipartisan American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), we wish to issue our strong support for the inclusion of common sense immigration solutions in the budget reconciliation legislation. We prefer bipartisanship but if reconciliation is moving forward, we urge you to include sensible immigration solutions to grow our national GDP (Gross Domestic Product), spur job growth, and raise the wage floor for all Americans. 

In recent months, ABIC met with 41 Republican senators and held 47 public events with Republican and Democrat Senators in support of a bipartisan deal. We heard encouraging words — agreement that action is desperately needed — but, unfortunately, this did not translate to a bipartisan compromise. 

Reconciliation offers the best opportunity in years to legalize Dreamers, TPS recipients, farmworkers, and essential workers. Immigrants and employers who depend on them deserve legislation that would bring certainty to their lives and businesses after years of existing in legal limbo. This is not only morally right, it is vital for our economy. There is an undeniable economic need for these immigration provisions.

The economic benefits for all Americans that would result from legalizing the status of millions of workers come in the form of increased spending, tax revenues, and job creation. The U.S. economy would grow by $121 billion annually if Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers, and undocumented essential workers were to earn legalization and become U.S. citizens, “including multi-billion expansions in a dozen state economies, and boosting federal, state, and local tax revenue by $31 billion annually,” according to a recent analysis. The increased federal tax revenues alone should qualify immigration measures for inclusion in the reconciliation package. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has long recognized the economic benefits to the U.S. economy and to federal deficit reduction if undocumented immigrants had access to legalization and citizenship. During the 2013 debate of S744, which was voted out of the Senate with 68 votes, the CBO estimated that the measure, if enacted, would have decreased federal budget deficits by $197 billion over the 2014–2023 period and by roughly $700 billion over the 2024–2033 period.  

These sensible reforms are crucial for our national economic security, as employers are facing labor shortages across the U.S. Immediate relief is imperative for both the immigrants whose valuable contributions help sustain our economy and their employers.

It is time for Congress to do its job and use every tool at its disposal to move the country and our economy forward; to ensure that a path to legal status for farmworkers, Dreamers, TPS recipients, and essential workers is included in the reconciliation process.

Our goal at ABIC remains the same, to support sensible immigration reform to grow the economy and keep families together. We are ready to work with Congress to accomplish that goal.    

We remind lawmakers that inaction is unacceptable. The time to act is now. We prefer bipartisanship but if reconciliation is moving forward then we urge you to include immigration solutions. Reconciliation may be the last chance to do what the American people want, and what our economy needs, for months, and perhaps years to come.”

The letter was signed by the following business and community leaders:

John Rowe, Chairman Emeritus, Exelon Corporation

Mike Fernandez, Chairman, MBF Healthcare Partners

Jeb Bush, Jr.

Jim Edgar, Former Republican Governor of Illinois

William C. Kunkler III, Executive Vice President, CC Industries

Bob Worsley, Former Arizona Republican State Senator, Founder of Skymall

Al Cardenas, Former Chairman, Florida Republican Party

Paul DiMare, President, DiMare Distribution, Florida “Farmer of the Year” 

Ana Navarro, GOP Strategist, CNN/The View Host 

David Barber, Former President and CEO of Barber Foods

Representative Neal Collins (R-SC 5)

Sol Trujillo, Chairman, the Trujillo Group

Craig Duchossois, Chairman, the Duchossois Group 

Dave Bender, VP of Political Affairs, American Council of Engineering Companies; Former Logan County, Illinois GOP Chairman

Chris Wallace, President & CEO, North Texas Commission

Tom Cross, Former Republican Leader of Illinois

Bill Hammond, Former President, Texas Association of Business

Stan Marek, President & CEO, Marek Family of Companies

Pastor Maudia Melendez, Executive Director, Jesus Ministry Inc.

Byron Cook, Former Texas Republican State Representative

Mario Murgado, President & CEO, Murgado Automotive Group 

ABOUT

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.