Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. Many of us have heard from farmers and agricultural suppliers around the country about their need for labor to ensure their products can be harvested, processed, and sold. I have heard time and time again from business owners who prioritize hiring American workers but repeatedly find themselves without the labor necessary. This problem is worthy of a broader conversation in Congress, including how we address the root of the problem and any relation to the welfare state that we have created here. My main concerns today, however, go beyond addressing true labor shortages and, instead, focus on the rewards this legislation provides to employers who have chosen to use illegal labor and to aliens who have chosen to work illegally in the United States. This bill creates a new pathway to legal status for illegal aliens who have been working in the agricultural industry in the United States. Any alien who merely applies for legal status under the program, whether truly eligible, immediately receives work authorization, protection from removal, and the ability to travel outside the United States. Those who meet the requirements will be rewarded with a pathway to lawful, permanent resident status and, ultimately, citizenship. Foreign nationals around the world wait years and spend thousands of dollars to receive those same benefits.…”