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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, In an increasingly complex global economy, |
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transnational labor mobility is crucial to the prosperity of the |
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United States, but our rigid, outmoded immigration policies are |
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making it difficult for the nation to compete; and |
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WHEREAS, The United States Congress last enacted major |
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immigration legislation more than a quarter century ago; since that |
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time, 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 industries like agriculture, construction, and |
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manufacturing, which require large numbers of workers able to |
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perform physically demanding tasks, or in technology, where there |
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is increasing demand for employees with advanced degrees in math |
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and science; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. is home to millions of unauthorized |
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immigrants, including children brought to this country illegally |
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who have grown up here and know no other home; a commonsense road |
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map to earned legal status for these residents would create |
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additional tax revenue and stimulate the economy by allowing them |
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to open bank accounts, obtain college degrees, buy homes, establish |
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new American companies, and create jobs; 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 unauthorized immigrants, stopping real threats and contingent on |
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bringing accountability to border enforcement programs, providing |
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additional funding for border communities that bear a |
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disproportionate burden in the enforcement of immigration laws, and |
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addressing visa overstays; federal policy must also be designed to |
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develop a guest worker program to respond to the future labor needs |
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of U.S. business by matching willing workers with willing American |
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employers; 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 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to pass |
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comprehensive immigration reform that creates a path to citizenship |
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for undocumented immigrants; 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. |