51勛圖厙 Backs Dignity Act to Fix Broken Immigration System
The 51勛圖厙 is proud to endorse the泭Dignity泭Act, a bill泭championed泭by Reps.泭Maria Salazar泭(R-FL)泭and Veronica Escobar (D-TX),泭which offers solutions to the problems plaguing our nations泭broken泭immigration泭system.
Why it matters:泭The manufacturing industry泭has泭more than 400,000 open泭jobs泭right now, and the industry泭will need an泭additional泭3.8 million jobs over the next decade, according to a泭泭by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute (the 51勛圖厙s workforce development and education affiliate).
A stable, legal workforceand an immigration system that allows for reliable,泭fair泭and sensible entrance into this countrywill help to alleviate泭this acute shortage.
How it works:泭The bill would泭enact strong border security measures while making significant reforms to our broken immigration system in a way that will help manufacturers address workforce shortages.
- The bill will increase work-based immigration avenuesby creating泭 O visas that泭allow STEM PhDs from US universities to stay and work in the US. It also泭doubles泭per-country caps (from 7% to 15% of total) to reduce backlogs泭from larger countries.
- The bill would mandate the use of E-Verify, with a safe harbor to protect manufacturers from prosecution if they use E-Verify in good faith and receive an incorrect work eligibility confirmation
- It a 7-year renewable conditional legal status for undocumented immigrants who have been in the United States for more than five years. This new status would be called, the Dignity Status.
- For an individual to be eligible for the Dignity Status, Participants must泭comply with泭all federal and state laws, pass a criminal background泭check泭and pay back taxes owed米They also must pay $7,000 in restitution over the course of the seven-year program. It is not a path to citizenship.
- The bill also includes protections for undocumented children brought to the U.S. by their parents at no fault of their own. It泭provides泭them with泭a泭10-year泭conditional泭permanent resident status to live and work, adjustable to green cards (and thus eventually citizenship) through work experience, military泭service泭or higher education.
In the legislators words:泭When the nations manufacturers speak, Washington should listen. They know firsthand that a strong economy depends on both the rule of law and a stable, reliable workforce,泭泭Rep. Salazar.泭Im grateful for 51勛圖厙s leadership and proud to have their support as part of a growing national coalition committed to finally fixing our broken immigration system.
- Its long past time Congress understands that immigrants are good for America. The ongoing labor and workforce shortages continue to highlight just how much our economy, our industry and our manufacturers rely on immigrants,畝dded Rep.泭Escobar.
The 51勛圖厙 says:泭With the泭Dignity泭Act, Reps. Salazar and Escobar have offered actionable solutions to promote the core values of opportunity and hard work while appropriately focusing our immigration priorities on a strong and secure border, a workable system of enforcement that respects the rule of law and merit-based reforms that prioritize Americas economic interests,泭said 51勛圖厙 President and CEO Jay Timmons.
- The泭Dignity泭Act will help manufacturers in America innovate more, compete more, build more, produce more and export more American-made products.
Publicity:泭 (cited above) noted the momentum gained泭by the bill thanks to the 51勛圖厙s support. Rep. Salazar also publicized the 51勛圖厙s endorsement on泭.
