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Vic Kolenc, El Paso Times Published 11:31 a.m. MT Oct. 3, 2018 | Updated 12:06 p.m. MT Oct. 3, 2018

Rob Kaplan, CEO of the Dallas Fed, talked about the limitations of the U.S. unemployment measurement in discussing full employment. Vic Kolenc, El Paso Times

Rob Kaplan, CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, answers a question posed by Mary Kipp, left, El Paso Electric CEO and member of the Dallas Fed board of directors.(Photo: VIC KOLENC/EL PASO TIMES)Buy Photo

Immigration reformis neededto growthe nation's economy in the future andinvigoratean aging national workforce, the head of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas told El Paso community leaders at a luncheon.

"If you think you'regoing to cut the number of immigrants substantially and grow GDP (gross domestic product, or economic growth),those two things do not go together. We need to grow the workforce if were going to grow GDP," Rob Kaplan, chief executive officer of the Dallas Fed told a packed Community Foundation Room in Downtown El Paso on Tuesday.

More:Construction of Trump border wall to begin Saturday in El Paso, Border Patrol announces

"While Texas is growing its workforce and population, the rest of the country is not," Kaplan said.

"The participation rate the percentage of 16- to 64-year-oldsthat are in the (nation's) labor force has declined since 2007, and we believe this is due to aging demographics."

Growing the workforce is a key to future economic growth, Kaplan said. That can be doneby getting more blacks, Hispanics, women, and former prisoners back into the workforce, and by reforming federal immigration policies, he said.

Kaplan made his remarks during a question and answer session withMary Kipp, El Paso Electric chief executive officerand a member of the Dallas Fed's board of directors. The session was part of a community luncheon held Oct. 2by the Dallas Fed's El Paso branch.

TRUMP USMCA(Photo: WHITE HOUSE)

The U.S. economy is expected to grow at about a 3 percent rate this year, but decreaseto a growth rate of about 2.5 percent in 2019, and slowfurtherin 2020, Kaplan said.

"We have been advocates,the Dallas Fed, ... to redo our immigration policies and have it be more skill-based and employer-based, much more like Canada," Kaplan said.

In a question and answer session with news reporters after his luncheon session, Kaplansaidhis immigration-growth stance is not counter to the Trump administration's immigration policies. Those are aimed at reducing undocumented immigrants and gettinga merit-based immigration system.

It's likely "immigration (reform) will be at leastpart of the puzzle in terms of improving workforcegrowth," he said.

The Texas economy is outperforming the national economy, and is expected to continue to do so in large part because of the state's continued growing population, and growing workforce, Kaplan said.

Projections show the Texas population, now at 28 million, could grow to near40 million in 16 to 24 years, he said.

El Paso has more of a challenge of benefitingfrom the state's population growth because El Paso has not been the destination that Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas have been, Kaplan said after his luncheon talk.

However, he said, a growing state population "can only havepositive spillover effects toEl Paso," he said.

More:El Paso economic growth to slow in 2018, UTEP forecasts

Another key to growing both the United States and Texas economies in the futureis to improve workers' education levels and job skills, he said. And that has to start with better education programs in children's early years, he said.

The United States has 46 million people with a high school education or less, he said.

"Ifyou'reone of the 46 millionthat dont (have a college diploma), your job is likely to getrestructuredor eventually eliminated. And unless you go get retrained, which is a lot easier to say and a lot harder to do,you'regoing to find another job in a strong job market, but youre going to see your income and productivity (go way down), and thats ... one reason productivitygrowth is sluggish," he said.

Kaplan said after his talk that he supports a smallincreasein the federal funds interest ratein December and possibly two more modest increases in 2019 until what he termed a "neutral stance" is reached with a rate around 2.5 to 2.75 percent.

The Fed last week raised the federal funds rate the rate banks charge each other for overnight loans by a quarter point to a range of 2 percent to 2.25 percent. That rate affects interest rates charged for credit cards, home mortgages, and other types of loans.

The Fedheld the rate near zero for years after the Great Recessionof 2007-09 and then has nudged it up gradually as the national economy has improved.

More:NAFTA deal means business as usual on the border, El Paso leaders say

Rob Kaplan, CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, discusses the newly approved replacement for NAFTA the USMCA. El Paso Times

Kaplanalso said that having the revised North American Free Trade Agreement, now called theUnited States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, completed takes away uncertainty that had "some chilliing effect on CEOs to spend on expansion."

On Sunday night, Canada agreed to join the United States and Mexico in a trade deal that will replace NAFTA, U.S. and Canadian officials said Sunday night.The last-minutedeal would provide the U.S. with greater access to Canadas dairy market, an issue that had been considered vital for U.S. dairy manufacturers.

The agreement with Canada came about a month after the U.S. and Mexico announced that they had reached a new trade pact to replace NAFTA.

The agreement still has to be approved by the legislative bodies of the three countries.

Vic Kolenc may be reached at 546-6421;vkolenc@elpasotimes.com;@vickolencon Twitter.

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Immigration reform key to future economic growth, Dallas Fed ...

Section of Congressional Record Daily Digest Senate House Extensions of Remarks

Members Remarks By Any House Member Abraham, Ralph Lee [R-LA]Adams, Alma S. [D-NC]Aderholt, Robert B. [R-AL]Aguilar, Pete [D-CA]Allen, Rick W. [R-GA]Amash, Justin [R-MI]Amodei, Mark E. [R-NV]Arrington, Jodey C. [R-TX]Babin, Brian [R-TX]Bacon, Don [R-NE]Balderson, Troy [R-OH]Banks, Jim [R-IN]Barletta, Lou [R-PA]Barr, Andy [R-KY]Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA]Barton, Joe [R-TX]Bass, Karen [D-CA]Beatty, Joyce [D-OH]Becerra, Xavier [D-CA]Bera, Ami [D-CA]Bergman, Jack [R-MI]Beyer, Donald S., Jr. [D-VA]Biggs, Andy [R-AZ]Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL]Bishop, Mike [R-MI]Bishop, Rob [R-UT]Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [D-GA]Black, Diane [R-TN]Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]Blum, Rod [R-IA]Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR]Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR]Bordallo, Madeleine Z. [D-GU]Bost, Mike [R-IL]Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA]Brady, Kevin [R-TX]Brady, Robert A. [D-PA]Brat, Dave [R-VA]Bridenstine, Jim [R-OK]Brooks, Mo [R-AL]Brooks, Susan W. [R-IN]Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD]Brownley, Julia [D-CA]Buchanan, Vern [R-FL]Buck, Ken [R-CO]Bucshon, Larry [R-IN]Budd, Ted [R-NC]Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX]Bustos, Cheri [D-IL]Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC]Byrne, Bradley [R-AL]Calvert, Ken [R-CA]Capuano, Michael E. [D-MA]Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA]Cardenas, Tony [D-CA]Carson, Andre [D-IN]Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA]Carter, John R. [R-TX]Cartwright, Matt [D-PA]Castor, Kathy [D-FL]Castro, Joaquin [D-TX]Chabot, Steve [R-OH]Chaffetz, Jason [R-UT]Cheney, Liz [R-WY]Chu, Judy [D-CA]Cicilline, David N. [D-RI]Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA]Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY]Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO]Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO]Cloud, Michael [R-TX]Clyburn, James E. [D-SC]Coffman, Mike [R-CO]Cohen, Steve [D-TN]Cole, Tom [R-OK]Collins, Chris [R-NY]Collins, Doug [R-GA]Comer, James [R-KY]Comstock, Barbara [R-VA]Conaway, K. Michael [R-TX]Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA]Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI]Cook, Paul [R-CA]Cooper, Jim [D-TN]Correa, J. Luis [D-CA]Costa, Jim [D-CA]Costello, Ryan A. [R-PA]Courtney, Joe [D-CT]Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]Crawford, Eric A. "Rick" [R-AR]Crist, Charlie [D-FL]Crowley, Joseph [D-NY]Cuellar, Henry [D-TX]Culberson, John Abney [R-TX]Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD]Curbelo, Carlos [R-FL]Curtis, John R. [R-UT]Davidson, Warren [R-OH]Davis, Danny K. [D-IL]Davis, Rodney [R-IL]Davis, Susan A. [D-CA]DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR]DeGette, Diana [D-CO]Delaney, John K. [D-MD]DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT]DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA]Demings, Val Butler [D-FL]Denham, Jeff [R-CA]Dent, Charles W. [R-PA]DeSantis, Ron [R-FL]DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA]DesJarlais, Scott [R-TN]Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL]Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL]Dingell, Debbie [D-MI]Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX]Donovan, Daniel M., Jr. [R-NY]Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA]Duffy, Sean P. [R-WI]Duncan, Jeff [R-SC]Duncan, John J., Jr. [R-TN]Dunn, Neal P. [R-FL]Ellison, Keith [D-MN]Emmer, Tom [R-MN]Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY]Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA]Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY]Estes, Ron [R-KS]Esty, Elizabeth H. [D-CT]Evans, Dwight [D-PA]Farenthold, Blake [R-TX]Faso, John J. [R-NY]Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [R-GA]Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA]Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN]Flores, Bill [R-TX]Fortenberry, Jeff [R-NE]Foster, Bill [D-IL]Foxx, Virginia [R-NC]Frankel, Lois [D-FL]Franks, Trent [R-AZ]Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. [R-NJ]Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH]Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI]Gaetz, Matt [R-FL]Gallagher, Mike [R-WI]Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]Garamendi, John [D-CA]Garrett, Thomas A., Jr. [R-VA]Gianforte, Greg [R-MT]Gibbs, Bob [R-OH]Gohmert, Louie [R-TX]Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA]Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX]Gonzalez-Colon, Jenniffer [R-PR]Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA]Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ]Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ]Gowdy, Trey [R-SC]Granger, Kay [R-TX]Graves, Garret [R-LA]Graves, Sam [R-MO]Graves, Tom [R-GA]Green, Al [D-TX]Green, Gene [D-TX]Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA]Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ]Grothman, Glenn [R-WI]Guthrie, Brett [R-KY]Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL]Hanabusa, Colleen [D-HI]Handel, Karen C. [R-GA]Harper, Gregg [R-MS]Harris, Andy [R-MD]Hartzler, Vicky [R-MO]Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL]Heck, Denny [D-WA]Hensarling, Jeb [R-TX]Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA]Hice, Jody B. [R-GA]Higgins, Brian [D-NY]Higgins, Clay [R-LA]Hill, J. French [R-AR]Himes, James A. [D-CT]Holding, George [R-NC]Hollingsworth, Trey [R-IN]Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD]Hudson, Richard [R-NC]Huffman, Jared [D-CA]Huizenga, Bill [R-MI]Hultgren, Randy [R-IL]Hunter, Duncan D. [R-CA]Hurd, Will [R-TX]Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA]Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX]Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA]Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY]Jenkins, Evan H. [R-WV]Jenkins, Lynn [R-KS]Johnson, Bill [R-OH]Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX]Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA]Johnson, Mike [R-LA]Johnson, Sam [R-TX]Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC]Jordan, Jim [R-OH]Joyce, David P. [R-OH]Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH]Katko, John [R-NY]Keating, William R. [D-MA]Kelly, Mike [R-PA]Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL]Kelly, Trent [R-MS]Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA]Khanna, Ro [D-CA]Kihuen, Ruben J. [D-NV]Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI]Kilmer, Derek [D-WA]Kind, Ron [D-WI]King, Peter T. [R-NY]King, Steve [R-IA]Kinzinger, Adam [R-IL]Knight, Stephen [R-CA]Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL]Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH]Kustoff, David [R-TN]Labrador, Raul R. [R-ID]LaHood, Darin [R-IL]LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA]Lamb, Conor [D-PA]Lamborn, Doug [R-CO]Lance, Leonard [R-NJ]Langevin, James R. [D-RI]Larsen, Rick [D-WA]Larson, John B. [D-CT]Latta, Robert E. [R-OH]Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI]Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL]Lee, Barbara [D-CA]Lesko, Debbie [R-AZ]Levin, Sander M. [D-MI]Lewis, Jason [R-MN]Lewis, John [D-GA]Lieu, Ted [D-CA]Lipinski, Daniel [D-IL]LoBiondo, Frank A. [R-NJ]Loebsack, David [D-IA]Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA]Long, Billy [R-MO]Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA]Love, Mia B. [R-UT]Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA]Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY]Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK]Luetkemeyer, Blaine [R-MO]Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM]Lujan Grisham, Michelle [D-NM]Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA]MacArthur, Thomas [R-NJ]Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY]Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY]Marchant, Kenny [R-TX]Marino, Tom [R-PA]Marshall, Roger W. [R-KS]Massie, Thomas [R-KY]Mast, Brian J. [R-FL]Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA]McCarthy, Kevin [R-CA]McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX]McClintock, Tom [R-CA]McCollum, Betty [D-MN]McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA]McGovern, James P. [D-MA]McHenry, Patrick T. [R-NC]McKinley, David B. [R-WV]McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA]McNerney, Jerry [D-CA]McSally, Martha [R-AZ]Meadows, Mark [R-NC]Meehan, Patrick [R-PA]Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY]Meng, Grace [D-NY]Messer, Luke [R-IN]Mitchell, Paul [R-MI]Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI]Mooney, Alexander X. [R-WV]Moore, Gwen [D-WI]Moulton, Seth [D-MA]Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK]Mulvaney, Mick [R-SC]Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL]Murphy, Tim [R-PA]Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY]Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA]Neal, Richard E. [D-MA]Newhouse, Dan [R-WA]Noem, Kristi L. [R-SD]Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN]Norcross, Donald [D-NJ]Norman, Ralph [R-SC]Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC]Nunes, Devin [R-CA]O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ]O'Rourke, Beto [D-TX]Olson, Pete [R-TX]Palazzo, Steven M. [R-MS]Pallone, Frank, Jr. [D-NJ]Palmer, Gary J. [R-AL]Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA]Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ]Paulsen, Erik [R-MN]Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ]Pearce, Stevan [R-NM]Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA]Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO]Perry, Scott [R-PA]Peters, Scott H. [D-CA]Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN]Pingree, Chellie [D-ME]Pittenger, Robert [R-NC]Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI]Pocan, Mark [D-WI]Poe, Ted [R-TX]Poliquin, Bruce [R-ME]Polis, Jared [D-CO]Pompeo, Mike [R-KS]Posey, Bill [R-FL]Price, David E. [D-NC]Price, Tom [R-GA]Quigley, Mike [D-IL]Radewagen, Aumua Amata Coleman [R-AS]Raskin, Jamie [D-MD]Ratcliffe, John [R-TX]Reed, Tom [R-NY]Reichert, David G. [R-WA]Renacci, James B. [R-OH]Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY]Rice, Tom [R-SC]Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA]Roby, Martha [R-AL]Roe, David P. [R-TN]Rogers, Harold [R-KY]Rogers, Mike D. [R-AL]Rohrabacher, Dana [R-CA]Rokita, Todd [R-IN]Rooney, Francis [R-FL]Rooney, Thomas J. [R-FL]Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL]Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]Roskam, Peter J. [R-IL]Ross, Dennis A. [R-FL]Rothfus, Keith J. [R-PA]Rouzer, David [R-NC]Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA]Royce, Edward R. [R-CA]Ruiz, Raul [D-CA]Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD]Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL]Russell, Steve [R-OK]Rutherford, John H. [R-FL]Ryan, Paul D. [R-WI]Ryan, Tim [D-OH]Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP]Sanchez, Linda T. [D-CA]Sanford, Mark [R-SC]Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD]Scalise, Steve [R-LA]Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL]Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL]Schrader, Kurt [D-OR]Schweikert, David [R-AZ]Scott, Austin [R-GA]Scott, David [D-GA]Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA]Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr. [R-WI]Serrano, Jose E. [D-NY]Sessions, Pete [R-TX]Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL]Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH]Sherman, Brad [D-CA]Shimkus, John [R-IL]Shuster, Bill [R-PA]Simpson, Michael K. [R-ID]Sinema, Kyrsten [D-AZ]Sires, Albio [D-NJ]Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY]Smith, Adam [D-WA]Smith, Adrian [R-NE]Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ]Smith, Jason [R-MO]Smith, Lamar [R-TX]Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA]Soto, Darren [D-FL]Speier, Jackie [D-CA]Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY]Stewart, Chris [R-UT]Stivers, Steve [R-OH]Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY]Swalwell, Eric [D-CA]Takano, Mark [D-CA]Taylor, Scott [R-VA]Tenney, Claudia [R-NY]Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS]Thompson, Glenn [R-PA]Thompson, Mike [D-CA]Thornberry, Mac [R-TX]Tiberi, Patrick J. [R-OH]Tipton, Scott R. [R-CO]Titus, Dina [D-NV]Tonko, Paul [D-NY]Torres, Norma J. [D-CA]Trott, David A. [R-MI]Tsongas, Niki [D-MA]Turner, Michael R. [R-OH]Upton, Fred [R-MI]Valadao, David G. [R-CA]Vargas, Juan [D-CA]Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX]Vela, Filemon [D-TX]Velazquez, Nydia M. [D-NY]Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN]Wagner, Ann [R-MO]Walberg, Tim [R-MI]Walden, Greg [R-OR]Walker, Mark [R-NC]Walorski, Jackie [R-IN]Walters, Mimi [R-CA]Walz, Timothy J. [D-MN]Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL]Waters, Maxine [D-CA]Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ]Weber, Randy K., Sr. [R-TX]Webster, Daniel [R-FL]Welch, Peter [D-VT]Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH]Westerman, Bruce [R-AR]Williams, Roger [R-TX]Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL]Wilson, Joe [R-SC]Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA]Womack, Steve [R-AR]Woodall, Rob [R-GA]Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY]Yoder, Kevin [R-KS]Yoho, Ted S. [R-FL]Young, David [R-IA]Young, Don [R-AK]Zeldin, Lee M. [R-NY]Zinke, Ryan K. [R-MT] By Any Senate Member Alexander, Lamar [R-TN]Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]Barrasso, John [R-WY]Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]Blunt, Roy [R-MO]Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]Boozman, John [R-AR]Brown, Sherrod [D-OH]Burr, Richard [R-NC]Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV]Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA]Cassidy, Bill [R-LA]Cochran, Thad [R-MS]Collins, Susan M. [R-ME]Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]Corker, Bob [R-TN]Cornyn, John [R-TX]Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]Cotton, Tom [R-AR]Crapo, Mike [R-ID]Cruz, Ted [R-TX]Daines, Steve [R-MT]Donnelly, Joe [D-IN]Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY]Ernst, Joni [R-IA]Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]Fischer, Deb [R-NE]Flake, Jeff [R-AZ]Franken, Al [D-MN]Gardner, Cory [R-CO]Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]Heitkamp, Heidi [D-ND]Heller, Dean [R-NV]Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]Hoeven, John [R-ND]Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]Inhofe, James M. [R-OK]Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]Johnson, Ron [R-WI]Jones, Doug [D-AL]Kaine, Tim [D-VA]Kennedy, John [R-LA]King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]Kyl, Jon [R-AZ]Lankford, James [R-OK]Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]Lee, Mike [R-UT]Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV]Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]McCain, John [R-AZ]McCaskill, Claire [D-MO]McConnell, Mitch [R-KY]Menendez, Robert [D-NJ]Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]Moran, Jerry [R-KS]Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]Murray, Patty [D-WA]Nelson, Bill [D-FL]Paul, Rand [R-KY]Perdue, David [R-GA]Peters, Gary C. [D-MI]Portman, Rob [R-OH]Reed, Jack [D-RI]Risch, James E. [R-ID]Roberts, Pat [R-KS]Rounds, Mike [R-SD]Rubio, Marco [R-FL]Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]Sasse, Ben [R-NE]Schatz, Brian [D-HI]Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]Scott, Tim [R-SC]Sessions, Jeff [R-AL]Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL]Smith, Tina [D-MN]Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI]Strange, Luther [R-AL]Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]Tester, Jon [D-MT]Thune, John [R-SD]Tillis, Thom [R-NC]Toomey, Pat [R-PA]Udall, Tom [D-NM]Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS]Wyden, Ron [D-OR]Young, Todd C. [R-IN]

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H.R.6136 - Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018 ...

Enough is enough.We cannot afford to let these cruel policies go unchecked while lives are being ruined. If elected, I will fight every day to end this inhumane practice. As the son of immigrants with many still in my family, I understand the need to take immediate and proactive steps to combat the cruelty of this administration.

Thats why I made it a priority in California, pushing comprehensive legislation to ensure we are a welcoming sanctuary state.[2] Empty threats from Jeff Sessions and this administration didnt keep California from doing the right thing,[3] and they shouldnt keep the Senate from doing so either. Our Democratic leaders need to stand up and defend DREAMers, prevent billions from being wasted on an ineffective border wall,[4] and work to put an end to mass-deportation.

California deserves a Senator that will take action on immigration now, not one that will be patient while people across our country are ripped from their homes. We need someone with a record of defending immigrants to stand up to President Trump and fight for California values. If elected, I will make it my mission to fight every day and ensure that we have a just and humane immigration system.

[1] Arrests of immigrants, especially non-criminals, way up in Trump's first year, Tal Kopan, CNN, 2/23/2018

[2] A good compromise will result in California becoming a 'sanctuary state', George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 9/14/2017

[3] Jeff Sessions Scolds California in Immigration Speech: We Have a Problem, Thomas Fuller, New York Times, 3/7/2018

[4] A Costly, Ineffective, and Divisive Border Wall Doesnt Belong in a National Security Appropriation, David Bier, CATO Institute, 11/28/2016

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Immigration Reform Kevin de Len for Senate

Immigrants are an important part of our districts and nations history, culture and economy. However, our current immigration system is broken. There are more than 11 million undocumented residents living within our borders.

Its time we fix our broken immigration system. We cannot do this through more piecemeal steps. We need to take a comprehensive approach that solves the whole problem.

Were a nation of laws. And its important that we enforce those laws. Immigration reform must strengthen our borders and be fair to U.S. taxpayers.

Were also a nation of immigrants. More than a million immigrants come to our country every year in search of greater opportunities for themselves and their families. They strengthen our nation and contribute to our economy. Reforms should allow immigrants to earn the right to join us as fully participating taxpayers. We should establish a streamlined program for temporary workers, and address unauthorized immigrants who are currently in our country by creating an earned path to citizenship that requires steps like passing a background check, paying a reasonable fine and back taxes, and going to the back of the line behind those who are playing by the rules while continuing to live and work in the U.S.

As Congress take up comprehensive immigration reform, I will work to include policies that will: Strengthen our borders, provide the appropriate number of border patrol agents and supply them with the resources and technology they need to protect our land and maritime borders; Focus enforcement of our immigration laws on criminals and national security threats, including transnational crime and drug traffickers; Give local law enforcement more flexibility in complying with the Department of Homeland Securitys Secure Communities Program. Expedite the naturalization process for our military personnel, veterans, and their families; Reform our current seasonal worker visa program and give agricultural workers the ability to earn legal status provided they meet certain requirements, such as paying taxes and any fines; Enact into law President Obamas deferred action policy for individuals brought to this country as children, who are under the age of 30 and pose no criminal or security threat (the so-called DREAMers); Provide immigration benefits to same-sex couples; Reduce the backlog of visa applications that have been pending for extended periods of time, while ensuring that background checks are conducted to protect our national security.Immigration reform is a top priority for our district and nation, and I will continue my work on comprehensive reform that strengthens our borders, is fair to taxpayers, allows children of immigrants to get a college education, provides an earned pathway to citizenship for families whove been here for generations, and establishes a guest worker program for those here doing the jobs Americans dont want to do.

See the rest here:
Immigration Reform | Congressman Mike Thompson

The Issues

Our nations immigrants are the constant reinvigoration of America. Each wave of newcomers brings their patriotism, bravery and determination to succeed to our shores and in doing so, makes America more American. As students and servicemembers, entrepreneurs and public servants, parents and neighbors, these new Americans affirm our countrys fundamental, founding truth: that in diversity, lies strength.

Yet President Trump and Congressional Republicans continue to push a hateful, harmful anti-immigrant agenda that instills fear in our communities and weakens our country. Instead of respecting the hard-working men and women who want to contribute to our nation, Republicans are trying to make American taxpayers pay for an immoral, ineffective and expensive border wall. At the same time, the Trump Administration is unleashing a cruel deportation force that is tearing apart families across America.

We must reject these senseless and destructive policies. Democrats remain committed to passing comprehensive immigration reform that recognizes and embraces the talents and contributions of our immigrants. We will continue to work toward a comprehensive solution for our countrys broken immigration system, and we will never stop fighting to ensure that America remains a land of opportunity for those who work hard, abide by our laws and dare to dream.

Excerpt from:
Immigration Reform - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi