Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of S. 3157, the Bridging the Gap for New Americans Act. This legislation's journey to the House floor began in my office 3 years ago and was born out of a conversation with Interfaith Works of Central New York, a nonprofit in my district. Interfaith Works serves the Central New York community by working to resettle individuals and families that have fled unimaginable hardship, seeking opportunity and prosperity legally, legally, in the United States. As advocates from the organization with firsthand experience described, Interfaith's resettlement efforts consistently encounter a troubling trend; underemployment or unemployment among individuals that come to America with professional degrees and certifications from other countries. This phenomenon, often referred to as ``brain waste,'' impacts individuals with skills and experiences in a wide range of in-demand fields, and it is by no means isolated to Central New York. A study by the Migration Policy Institute estimated that 2 million immigrants and refugees with college degrees have been relegated to low-wage jobs or left unemployed in the U.S., with 60 percent of these individuals holding credentials in the healthcare sector. On an annual basis, this untapped talent is estimated to cost nearly $40 billion in uncollected wages and over $10 billion in unrealized tax receipts.…”