Small Business Supports Secure Borders, Guest Workers and a Workable Document Verification System
Immigration bill dies in Senate
On Thursday, June 28, 2007, the Senate failed to invoke cloture, or limit debate, on the comprehensive immigration reform bill, S. 1639. The motion failed 46-53. The bill is most likely dead for the year as the Senate majority leader is unlikely to schedule floor time for the bill and House leaders have said that they would not take up an immigration reform bill if the Senate was unable to pass one.
NFIB will continue to follow the issue closely, working to make sure that small business' views are heard during future debates.
Background
In the last Congress, the House and Senate passed very different immigration bills. The House bill reflected the Republican caucus views on illegal immigration and focused heavily on enforcement and border security and did not address amnesty. The Senate bill, a Kennedy-McCain bill, included more lenient provisions on enforcement and allowed a "path to citizenship" for undocumented workers.
NFIB did not support either the House or Senate bill. The House bill was too stringent on enforcement and the Senate bill included amnesty. That we did not take a formal position on either bill does not mean that we have no position on immigration, nor does it mean we were not engaged in the congressional debate. Both bills contained policies our members would support as well as oppose. In the House, particularly, we worked with the House Judiciary Committee to moderate the heavy enforcement provisions and were the only major business group not to key vote against the bill.
Plus, there's an important distinction between the positions taken by large and small businesses. The Chamber and Business Roundtable support an amnesty program and bankrolled the major business coalition. Small-business members strongly oppose amnesty.
As the immigration debate continues, NFIB will make sure the views of our members are heard, based on our member surveys on immigration:
Secure the borders. More than 90 percent of NFIB members believe illegal immigration is a problem, and 86 percent say it should be a very high priority for Congress and the Bush Administration. Our borders need to be secured, even if it means additional money for inspectors and technology.
Enact a workable employer verification system. Eighty-three percent of NFIB members believe employers who hire undocumented workers should be subject to fines. At the same time, these fines need to be structured so that small-business owners can defend themselves and not be driven into bankruptcy. Small-business owners also want a workable verification system that contains appropriate phase-in times.
Oppose amnesty for undocumented workers. According to the latest survey, 79 percent believe undocumented workers should return to their country and seek admission legally, and 61 percent oppose giving undocumented workers expedited procedures. NFIB will not support legislation that contains amnesty for undocumented workers.
Support and expand legal guest worker programs. Seventy-one percent of NFIB members support legal guest workers for agricultural and other seasonal labor needs. We support efforts to expand the H-2B visa program and belong to the H-2B Workforce Coalition, which supports a stable and reliable seasonal workforce program.
