House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives
Republicans
Rep. Howard P. “Buck†McKeon
Ranking Member
Fiscally responsible reforms for students, workers and retirees.
NEWSROOM
Press Release
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Labor Committee Republicans Object to Smokescreen Immigration Hearing
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Top Republicans on the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor today harshly criticized congressional Democrats’ efforts to divert attention from genuine immigration reform, arguing that congressional hearings must be accompanied by legislative action to have a meaningful impact on immigration policy. Republicans’ concerns came in response to a hearing, just the second held by the committee in the 110th Congress, that purported to examine whether federal programs ensure U.S. workers are recruited before employers hire from abroad.
“The Democrats’ newfound focus on immigration policy is welcome, and long overdue,” said Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the panel’s senior Republican. “Unfortunately, this hearing appears not to have been a genuine effort to promote a dialogue about immigration reform, but rather a smokescreen to divert the American people’s attention from a continued lack of action.”
McKeon and other Republicans highlighted a number of missed opportunities for immigration reform, citing Democrats’ failure to take up legislation to secure the nation’s borders and address the needs of the employer community. For instance, Republicans noted that to date, 188 members of Congress have signed a discharge petition to allow a vote on H.R. 4088, the SAVE Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC), a member of the majority’s own party. Still, members have been denied the opportunity to have an up-or-down vote on the measure.
Similarly, Democrats have failed to take up legislation introduced by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX), the New Employee Verification Act (H.R. 5515), a bill aimed at improving the employee verification program.
“Rather than allowing a full and open debate on securing the borders and stemming the tide of illegal immigration, Democrats once again turned their fire on job-creating American employers, casting American free enterprise as the enemy,” said McKeon. “It’s time we stop ignoring the needs and concerns of hardworking Americans who recognize the imperative of immigration reform.”
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