[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 22 (Thursday, February 2, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S235-S236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Sinema, and Mr. King):
  S. 255. A bill to authorize certain aliens seeking asylum to be 
employed in the United States while their applications are being 
adjudicated; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
   Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I rise today to introduce the Asylum 
Seeker Work Authorization Act of 2023 with my colleagues Senator Sinema 
and Senator King. It is my hope that the changes proposed by our bill 
will lessen the burden on the budgets of communities hosting asylum 
seekers, while allowing these individuals and their families to support 
themselves as they want to do, bringing needed skills to the cities and 
towns in which they settle.
  This legislation would allow individuals seeking asylum at ports of 
entry to be eligible for employment authorizations starting 30 days 
after applying for asylum, provided their applications are not 
frivolous; they are not detained; and their identities have been 
verified, with their names run through the Federal Government's 
terrorist watch lists. This change would allow asylum applicants to 
work, support themselves, and contribute to society without being as 
dependent on assistance from local governments while their claims are 
being adjudicated. By encouraging asylum seekers to enter the country 
through official ports of entry, this legislation would also help 
create a more orderly asylum application process.

[[Page S236]]

  Under current law, asylum seekers must wait extended periods of time 
after filing their applications before they are allowed to obtain work 
permits. This waiting period places the burden of care for these asylum 
seekers onto communities across the Nation. One such community is 
Portland, ME. Over the span of the last 2 years, a historic number of 
asylum seekers have arrived in Portland after crossing our southern 
border. Currently, hundreds of asylum seekers are being housed in 
emergency shelters and other facilities by the city of Portland. These 
asylum seekers could give a much needed boost to Maine businesses that 
are facing labor shortages--our State's unemployment rate is just 3.8 
percent--but the lengthy work authorization process prevents these 
asylum seekers from getting jobs, even to support themselves.
  While the Federal Government has provided assistance to Portland and 
other communities around our country dealing with a surge in asylum 
seekers, it would be a better solution if those seeking asylum were 
able to join the workforce and achieve self-sufficiency as quickly as 
possible while awaiting the outcome of their cases.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this win-win solution that will 
allow asylum seekers to work, as they are eager to do.
                                 ______