AGC urges Congress to act on immigration reform

James Christianson, vice president of government relations for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Arlington, Virginia, recently urged Congress “to reform the nation’s immigration system.” Christianson released a letter he sent June 21 to the U.S. House of Representatives on behalf of the association’s 27,500 firms.

“Although the bills before Congress this week address some immigration issues, unfortunately they fail to alleviate the industry’s workforce shortage,” Christianson stated in the letter, adding that AGC opposes the bill the H.R. 4760, “The Securing America’s Future Act.”

“Though the bill would strengthen national security—an AGC priority—through increased investment in border security, it reduces legal immigration,” Christianson stated. “This will, in turn, restrict economic growth and worsen the domestic workforce shortage, especially in the construction industry.”

AGC says it appreciates several provisions in H.R. 6136, “The Border Seucrity and Immigration Reform Act,” that the House is considering, Christianson’s letter added. “Such measures include increased investments in border security, addressing DREAMer status and providing reforms to the visa process,” the letter stated. “The bill additionally provides reforms to visa issuance and makes some improvements to the immigration system to meet economic and workforce needs.”

The letter concluded, “AGC remains hopeful that H.R. 6136 could address some of the immigration issues that have dogged Congress for years and provide a pathway to solving other complex immigration issues in a timely, bipartisan manner. AGC looks forward to working with you to find legislative solutions that can address the workforce needs of the construction industry while also gaining enough support to be enacted.”

The copy of the letter sent to House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan is here.