Washington, DC (July 19, 2006) – {oday, Congressman Rubén Hinojosa (TX-15) issued the following statement at an Education and the Workforce Committee hearing on “Guest Worker Programs: Impact on the American Workforce and U.S. Immigration Policy.”
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“Mr. Chairman, before I ask my questions, I would like to share with the Committee the deep frustration in my community in Texas about the Majority’s refusal to work in a good faith effort to fix our broken immigration system and address our workforce needs in a way that benefits employees and employers equally.  We are tired of “road shows,” like those in San Diego and Laredo, designed to fan the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment for potential gain at the ballot box.  We want comprehensive immigration reform.

“If the majority were serious about border security and immigration policy, they would not be holding show hearings.  Instead, they would be hard at work negotiating an immigration bill.  The House passed the “Sensenbrenner bill.”  The Senate passed Senator Specter’s bill on a bi-partisan vote.  Now is the time to negotiate and compromise to produce a final product.  That is how our legislative democratic process works!

“It requires a good faith effort to produce the right policy to serve our nation.  That is unfortunately, in short supply.
 
“The Republican record speaks for itself. The majority has consistently blocked efforts to increase financial resources to hire thousands of border patrol agents needed for border security.  Its record for protecting our workers is even worse.  The federal minimum wage has not been increased in nearly a decade.  Enforcement of our labor laws has fallen dramatically during this administration’s tenure. 

“This record of inaction and neglect cannot be papered over by a few hearings.”