[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 83 (Wednesday, May 17, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1708-S1709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Paul, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Collins, 
        Mr. King, Mr. Cramer, and Ms. Sinema):
  S. 1667. A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to 
authorize lawful permanent resident status for certain college 
graduates who entered the United States as children, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to introduce the Citizenship for 
Essential Workers Act.
  This legislation would provide a pathway to citizenship for these 
workers and their families, who have played a critical role in getting 
us through the pandemic and are helping with recovery efforts.
  A little over 2 years ago, after I was first sworn into the U.S. 
Senate, this was the very first bill I introduced.
  Every day, over 5 million essential workers without permanent legal 
status kept Americans healthy, fed, and safe during the COVID 
pandemic--all while risking their own health and the health of their 
families.
  They couldn't just Zoom into the office.
  Many served us while living in constant fear of deportation.
  Back then, for the first time, Americans were waking up to a reality 
what families like mine knew for years: that not only were these 
immigrant workers saving lives in a time of need but that their work 
had always been essential to our country.
  As the proud son of immigrants from Mexico whose mother worked as a 
housekeeper and father a short order cook--two jobs that today would be 
deemed essential--I can only imagine the fear and uncertainty my family 
would have experienced every day my dad walked out the door or my mom 
set off to enter another family's home in the middle of a pandemic.
  The Federal COVID-19 public health emergency comes to an end next 
month, but we can't forget the sacrifices these workers made--and still 
make every single day--for our country.
  And my legislation not only honors their sacrifice but also 
recognizes how critical essential workers are to our

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economy even beyond a public health emergency.
  They have earned their place in this country.

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