[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 104 (Wednesday, July 27, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1655-E1656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     COOK COUNTY LEADS THE NATION IN SUPPORT OF IMMIGRATION REFORM

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 27, 2005

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, last week, the Cook County Board of 
Commissioners passed unanimously an historic resolution in support of 
S. 1033 and H.R. 2330, the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act 
of 2005. The resolution urges the passage of common sense and realistic 
legislation that gives a path to citizenship for America's hard-working 
immigrants. This is the first resolution of its kind in the nation and 
was supported by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee 
Rights, leaders from business, labor, community organizations and 
diverse faith traditions, as well as Governor Blagojevich.
  America is a nation of immigrants. Nowhere is that more evident than 
in the 9th Congressional District of Illinois. We rely on the labor

[[Page E1656]]

and other contributions of immigrant workers, especially undocumented 
immigrants. Twenty percent of jobs in Chicago's growing restaurant, 
hotel, and manufacturing sectors function because of immigrants who 
support our economy. I believe this diversity is a source of incredible 
strength. Immigrants who come to this country work hard to provide for 
and educate their children and have a better life.
  The Cook County resolution recognizes the need for immigration 
reform. The current immigration system separates families, reduces the 
effectiveness of national security programs, allows labor abuses, and 
neglects the hard work and taxes that immigrants contribute to this 
county. In order for immigrants to succeed, they need immigration laws 
that make sense, that keep families together, that allow them to send 
their kids to college, that help them get better jobs and that ease 
their way to citizenship.
  The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act is our opportunity to 
enact comprehensive immigration reform. Sponsored in the Senate by 
Senators McCain and Kennedy and in the House by my Illinois colleague 
Rep. Gutierrez, it would provide opportunities for immigrants to earn 
legal status and fully realize their American dream, while protecting 
our borders.
  I support this bipartisan immigration reform plan because it includes 
access to earned legalization and citizenship, guarantees protections 
for immigrant and U.S. workers, and addresses the current backlogs of 
family members who have wiated up to ten years to reunite with their 
families in the United States. Immigrants have historically and 
continue to this day to contribute to our economy and to the diversity 
and well-being of our communities. It is time for a comprehensive 
immigration reform.
  I am pleased that the Cook County Board of Commissioners has 
unanimously passed this historic resolution. I urge my colleagues to 
look at the resolution, which I hope is the first of many, and support 
H.R. 2330.


Cook County Board of Commissioners Resolution--Resolution sponsored by 
       the Honorable Roberto Maldonado, Cook County Commissioner

       Whereas, the United States were founded by immigrants, who 
     have traveled from around the world to seek a better life; 
     and
       Whereas, the United States has a undocumented population of 
     eleven million immigrants, including a half a million in 
     Illinois, more than 300,000 of which reside in Cook County; 
     and
       Whereas, Cook County's undocumented immigrants fill key 
     roles in our economy such as paying taxes (including 
     contributions to Social Security that they cannot receive 
     back), raising families, and contributing to our schools, 
     churches, neighborhoods, and communities; and
       Whereas, our current immigration system contributes to long 
     backlogs, labor abuses, countless deaths on the border and 
     vigilante violence and is in dire need of reform to meet the 
     challenges of the 21st Century; and
       Whereas, any comprehensive reform must involve a path to 
     citizenship for these hardworking immigrants, as well as 
     reunification of families and a safe and orderly process for 
     enabling willing immigrant workers to fill essential jobs in 
     our economy and ensure full labor rights; and
       Whereas, U.S. Representative Luis Gutierrez has joined with 
     U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and John McCain 
     of Arizona to offer a comprehensive U.S. immigration reform 
     law known as The Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act; 
     and
       Whereas, the immigration initiative severely punishes 
     illegal employment practices while creating a path to earned 
     permanent legal status for individuals who have been working 
     in the United States, paying taxes, obeying the law and 
     learning English and protecting workers by ensuring the right 
     to change jobs, join a union and report abusive employment 
     situations; and
       Whereas, modernizing our antiquated and dysfunctional 
     immigration system will uphold our nations basic values of 
     fairness, equal opportunity, and respect for the law: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, that we, the President and the members of the 
     Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby support 
     comprehensive immigration reform and memorialize the Illinois 
     Congressional delegation to urge the passage of The Secure 
     America and Orderly Immigration Act of 2005 (SB 1033 and HB 
     2330) that allows every hardworking, law-abiding individual 
     to achieve the American Dream; and be it further
       Resolved, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be 
     delivered to the President of the United States, the Speaker 
     of the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, 
     and the Illnois Congressional Delegation.