FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Kerrigan or Raymond J. Keating
Wednesday, January 7, 2004 202-785-0238
Bush Immigration Plan Good for Small Business & Economy Says Advocacy Group
Washington, D.C. – The Small Business Survival Committee (SBSC) declared its support for President George W. Bush’s immigration proposals announced today.
SBSC Chair Karen Kerrigan noted: “The overwhelming number of immigrants come to this country to work hard. And, they are meeting the demand of U.S. businesses for both skilled and unskilled workers. President Bush’s proposals to increase the number of work visas available and to put the 8 million to 12 million undocumented workers on the path to legalization will prove beneficial to immigrants, U.S. employers, consumers and the economy.”
SBSC chief economist Raymond J. Keating added: “As most economists recognize, immigration is a big plus for the U.S. economy. Immigrants have proven over the years to have a high propensity for entrepreneurship. And, among the many findings in a study released in late 2002 prepared by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University for the National Business Roundtable, it was noted that ‘new immigrants accounted for 50% of the growth in the nation’s civilian labor force over the 1990-2001 period.’”
Keating added: “Regarding undocumented workers, most of these individuals work and contribute to our economy. However, the fact that they either entered or remained in the country illegally also means that their effectiveness in the economy is greatly restricted. In simple, straightforward economic terms, a growing population due to immigration means more workers, more consumers, more risk takers, and more taxpayers. That’s good for the economy.”
Kerrigan concluded: “Sound immigration reform combines tightening up our borders for national security purposes, while expanding legal channels for immigration to help our economy and to offer millions of hard-working people a chance at a better life. The Bush Administration is pointing immigration policy in the right direction.”
SBSC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit small business advocacy group with more than 70,000 members across the nation. For more information, please visit the SBSC website: www.sbsc.org.
URL:http://www.sbsc.org/LatestNews_Action.asp?FormMode=1&ID=326 |
