For more than a decade, NRCA has been working in support of immigration reform legislation as a leading member of the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition. And during the past year, substantial progress on the issue has been made. However, significant obstacles still must be overcome before the goal of a properly functioning immigration system that meets the roofing industry's workforce needs becomes a reality.
NRCA's position
NRCA supports immigration reform that enhances border security, improves interior enforcement without burdening employers, meets U.S. economic needs and deals with illegal workers already embedded in the workforce in a balanced manner.
To achieve these goals, legislation reform must provide an avenue for workers to enter the U.S. legally when warranted. This requires the establishment of a temporary visa program for key sectors of the economy that is governed by market forces, protects U.S. and foreign workers, and enables employers to grow their businesses.
Finding sufficient workers has been a serious problem for roofing contractors despite vigorous efforts to recruit U.S. workers. This is a result of an aging workforce, the physically demanding nature of roofing work and a larger share of U.S. workers pursuing college degrees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in the roofing industry will grow 18 percent between 2010 and 2020, and this demand cannot be met by U.S. workers alone.
A temporary visa program that effectively meets the roofing industry's needs along with other sectors of the economy must be guided by market principles and accommodate the economy's constantly fluctuating demand for labor. It must ensure employers undertake vigorous efforts to hire U.S. workers first as well as protect temporary foreign workers. And it must be streamlined and relatively easy for employers to use.
Two steps forward …
The comprehensive immigration reform bill (S. 744) passed by the Senate in 2013 with substantial bipartisan support was a positive step toward NRCA's goals. The legislation would enhance border security, improve interior enforcement and provide a system for addressing currently undocumented workers in a balanced manner.
Most important, the Senate bill achieved a significant milestone with the inclusion of a new W-visa program for construction and other similar industries. However, the W-visa program was saddled with too much bureaucracy and arbitrary constraints from labor unions and others who fear guest workers will displace U.S. workers. As such, the Senate bill is fatally flawed.
Another milestone was reached when House Republicans released broad principles for immigration reform in January. NRCA is pleased the principles recognize employers' workforce needs by establishing a temporary visa program that ends illegal immigration.
The issuance of these immigration principles signaled House Republican leaders want to move forward to address the issue with bills targeted at various aspects of the U.S. immigration system that ultimately could be packaged together to address the problem comprehensively.
In 2013, two House committees approved targeted bills on border security, interior enforcement and reforms to visa programs for the high-tech and agricultural industries. However, two major sticking points remain: the currently undocumented workers already in the U.S. and the establishment of a temporary worker program for construction and other industries that employ semi-skilled workers.
Since the issuance of the Republican principles, it has become apparent many House Republicans, while recognizing the need to address immigration generally, have serious misgivings about doing so in an election year. They argue moving forward on a highly divisive issue will detract from efforts to maintain unity leading up to the November midterm elections. Moreover, with the prospects of Republicans winning a Senate majority improving, they argue a Republican House and Senate working in tandem in 2015 will be able to produce better immigration reform legislation.
Hope remains
Given the continued gridlock in Congress and difficulty of addressing highly controversial issues in an election year, the prospects for immigration reform this year appear bleak. But significant progress has been made as NRCA and allied organizations have successfully convinced more lawmakers that immigration must be addressed.
NRCA will continue working to build support for effective immigration reform as Congress moves, however erratically, toward this elusive goal.
Duane L. Musser is NRCA's vice president of government relations.
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment. Please log in to leave a comment.