Mark Takano: “I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding time. Even though the economy is improving and job creation levels are…”

“I thank the gentleman from Colorado for yielding time. Even though the economy is improving and job creation levels are the highest they've been in 4 years, the top priority for all Members of Congress must be putting people back to work and strengthening the economy. Despite what opponents of immigration reform say, the bill proposed in the Senate does just that; and, moreover, it strengthens Social Security. One of the Republican architects of the Senate bill, Senator Marco Rubio, sent a letter to the Social Security Administration's chief actuary, asking for the net effect of comprehensive immigration reform on the Social Security trust fund. In his reply, Chief Actuary Goss stated that they are developing 75- year estimates, but, quote, and this is Actuary Goss speaking, ``overall, we anticipate that the net effect of this bill,'' meaning comprehensive immigration reform, ``on the long-range Social Security actuarial balance, will be positive.'' The actuary's office also states that over the next 10 years, comprehensive immigration reform will prevent 2 million illegal border crossings, create 3.2 million jobs, and increase the rate of growth on our gross domestic product by a third. Opponents of immigration reform don't seem to understand that many of the undocumented immigrants in this Nation are already working. Yet because of their illegal status, they are forced into the underground economy, with no labor protections and no way to pay into the system.…”