***MEDIA ADVISORY***

House Workforce Committee to Gather Input on

Impact of Illegal Immigration, Guest Worker Programs on American Workforce

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 10:30a.m., the U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce, chaired by Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), will hold a hearing on “Guest Worker Programs: Impact on the American Workforce and U.S. Immigration Policy” in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Recently, McKeon announced plans to examine key aspects of and proposed changes to U.S. border security and enforcement, with a particular focus on the U.S. education system and workforce. 

This first in a series of Committee hearings will focus on the enforcement, impact, and utilization of existing guest worker programs and how an expansion of those programs could impact American workers.  Recent media reports have highlighted a provision in Senate-passed legislation that would require certain foreign workers to be paid more than American workers doing the same job, and that is one of many topics McKeon expects to be addressed at Wednesday’s hearing.

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Witnesses to be announced