2013S0270-1 02/13/13
By: Uresti, et al. S.C.R. No. 15
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The United States of America is a nation of
immigrants; and
WHEREAS, The immigrant's story is woven into the social and
cultural fabric of this nation; and
WHEREAS, Our nation requires an immigration system that
provides for public safety, national security, economic
prosperity, and the wellbeing of all who live and work in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 is
the last major piece of immigration legislation to be passed by the
United States Congress; that legislation and subsequent piecemeal
reforms fail to adequately address the challenges posed by
immigration today; and
WHEREAS, A January, 2013, poll conducted by the Associated
Press shows that 62 percent of Americans support reform of the
immigration system; and
WHEREAS, There appears to be a renewed willingness in the
United States Congress to reform our immigration system; and
WHEREAS, An August, 2009, report by the CATO Institute found
that immigration reform could lead to a $180 billion gain for United
States households; and
WHEREAS, A June, 2012, Fiscal Policy Institute report found
that immigrants owned 18 percent of all small businesses in the
United States in 2010, which was a higher percentage than the
immigrant share of the population or labor force; and immigrant
owned businesses employed 4.7 million people and had $776 billion
in receipts in 2007; and
WHEREAS, The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found
that undocumented immigrants have contributed over $1.6 billion in
state and local taxes in 2010 alone; and
WHEREAS, A 2010 report by the Economic Policy Institute found
that immigration increased wages of native born workers from 1994
to 2007; and
WHEREAS, A study by The Perryman Group found that Texas would
lose $69.3 billion in economic activity, $30.8 billion in gross
state product, and approximately 403,000 jobs if all undocumented
immigrants were removed from the state; and
WHEREAS, The 77th Legislature of the State of Texas granted
in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants, allowing over 22,000
students to realize their educational goals and contribute to the
Texas economy; and
WHEREAS, The United States requires secure borders to
maintain its integrity as a sovereign nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby urge the United States Congress to thoughtfully and swiftly
enact a comprehensive reform of our immigration system that
provides undocumented immigrants a clear path to citizenship,
promotes public safety, national security, economic prosperity,
and the wellbeing of all those living and working in the United
States; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, the
president of the senate and the speaker of the house of
representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the
members of the Texas delegation to the congress.