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
President Joe Biden
The White House
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, Minority Leader
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510
August 9, 2021
Dear President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, 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.
Sincerely,
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”
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