Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Floor Speech

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Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. I thank the gentleman from California.

Madam Speaker, I could stand here all night talking about the many reasons why our country needs comprehensive immigration reform that keeps families together, provides a tough but fair pathway to citizenship, enhances border security, and that's in line with our core American values. But tonight, I'm going to focus on why immigration reform is good for the American economy and good for the economy of New Mexico.

Nationally, it's estimated that immigration reform will create 121,000 jobs a year and boost American GDP by $832 billion over the next decade. Nearly every day, we hear Members from both parties talking about the need to reduce our debt and deficit. Well, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has determined that comprehensive immigration reform will reduce our national deficit by nearly $850 billion over the next two decades.

In New Mexico, comprehensive immigration reform will create 6,000 jobs over the next decade and increase our GSP--gross State product--by $3.8 billion. These economic benefits and new jobs will have a ripple effect, leading to even more economic activity, higher productivity, more critical investments, better wages, and even more jobs for New Mexicans and Americans. Simply put, we cannot afford not to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Our economic future demands it, and that's why I'm glad that so many of my colleagues are taking to the floor this evening to make the case for comprehensive immigration reform because the American people need to know that it's good for the economy, good for business, and good for job creation.

The Senate has done its job and acted in a bipartisan manner. Now it's time for the House to do its job so we can send a comprehensive immigration reform to the President's desk and finally fix our broken immigration system.

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