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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, In an increasingly complex global economy, labor |
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mobility is crucial to the prosperity of the United States, but our |
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rigid, outmoded immigration policies are making it difficult for |
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the nation to compete; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Congress last enacted major immigration |
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legislation more than a quarter-century ago; since that time, |
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piecemeal attempts at reform have failed to create the kind of |
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rational and effective system we need to maintain competitiveness, |
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whether in an industry like agriculture, which requires large |
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numbers of workers able to perform physically demanding tasks, or |
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in technology, where the demand for employees with advanced degrees |
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in math and science is projected to outstrip supply by 2018; and |
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WHEREAS, Immigrants perform vital functions in a variety of |
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industries, and in Texas, they start nearly a third of the state's |
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new businesses; even undocumented immigrants produce more in state |
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revenue than they receive in state services, according to a 2006 |
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study by the Office of the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, |
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which estimated that their deportation would cause more than a six |
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percent decline in the workforce and nearly an $18 billion decline |
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in the gross state product; and |
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WHEREAS, The United States is now home to some 11 million |
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undocumented immigrants, including millions of children brought to |
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this country illegally who have grown up here and know no home other |
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than the United States; a commonsense road map to citizenship for |
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these residents would stimulate the economy by allowing them to |
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open bank accounts, obtain college degrees, buy homes, establish |
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new American companies, and create jobs; a recent study published |
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by the Cato Institute estimated that a complete overhaul of the |
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immigration system would yield at least $1.5 trillion in added |
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U.S. gross domestic product over 10 years; and |
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WHEREAS, A rational overhaul of the immigration system |
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requires a tough, fair, and practical program to address the status |
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of undocumented immigrants, contingent on success in securing our |
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borders and addressing visa overstays; in order to protect all |
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workers, whether native or foreign-born, it must include an |
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efficient and transparent employment verification system that |
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identifies qualified candidates while penalizing employers who |
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knowingly hire undocumented immigrants; immigration policy must |
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also be designed to respond to labor needs in science and |
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technology, as well as in agriculture; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognizing the characteristics that will help |
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build prosperity and strengthen our society, a commonsense road map |
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to legal status for undocumented immigrants would encompass a |
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health and criminal background check, proof of a stable U.S. work |
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history and current employment, and payment of taxes; to gain |
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probationary legal status, individuals would be further required to |
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demonstrate knowledge of English and American civics; fairness |
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demands that the system take into account special circumstances |
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surrounding candidates for probationary legal status, such as |
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minors brought to the country as children or agricultural workers |
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whose labor is essential to maintain the food supply; and |
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WHEREAS, National security and our national interests are |
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poorly served by an embattled immigration system, and patchwork |
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attempts to mend its deficiencies undermine our potential for |
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prosperity and leave us ill-prepared to meet the challenges of the |
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modern world; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to swiftly |
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enact and fund comprehensive immigration reform that creates a |
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commonsense road map to citizenship for some 11 million |
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undocumented immigrants, promotes economic growth, and strengthens |
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national security; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the |
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members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that |
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this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a |
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memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |