On the recordSeptember 18, 2013
I have the great opportunity to come from a community that, in large part, has been built by immigrants. I am the son of refugees to this great country. And here's what we know: We know that immigrants add to America's way of life; they create more opportunity for all; they make our country better; they make American citizens richer. Here's what we know: We know that in the next 10 years, if we find a pathway for legalization, over $100 billion of additional capital will be added to our country. What we know is that in the next 20 years, that will be over $870 billion. In fact, what we know is that they will almost provide $1 trillion of economic growth over the next 20 years. It's important to understand that immigrants bolster our country, make our country better, and they add to it. I lived in south Florida during very tough times for immigrants. I remember, as a young man, seeing bumper stickers on the back of cars that said, ``Would the last American leaving Miami please bring the flag.'' What I know is that the flag still flies high in Miami. It is a leading beacon for work and opportunity in our country because people didn't give up on the dream of our country. They continued to work and they continued to make a difference. And that is exactly what we have to understand is that immigrants bolster our country. They bolster America's private sector by consuming more goods, more services, providing increased income.…
Source
govinfo.gov




