Capitol Hill

In April, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) introduced the Willing Workers and Willing Employers Act (S. 2827) in the Senate. An innovative approach to immigration reform, the act seeks to establish a pilot program to provide temporary workers for certain segments of the U.S. economy when economic conditions warrant. NRCA believes this legislation will help roofing industry employers address their current challenging workforce needs.

NRCA's efforts

NRCA has long supported immigration reform legislation. The difficulty of finding sufficient candidates for job openings in the roofing industry has been a problem for many years despite competitive wages and vigorous efforts to recruit new employees. This largely is a result of an aging workforce, the physically demanding nature of roofing work and a smaller share of eligible workers opting to pursue careers in the construction industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in roofing will grow 13 percent between 2014 and 2024, and there is broad agreement the demand cannot be met by native-born workers alone.

NRCA has been a leading advocate for immigration reform that responds to economic demands. In 1999, NRCA helped found the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition to work with Congress and other stakeholders to develop immigration legislation. The principles NRCA follows with respect to immigration reform, as directed by its Government Relations Committee, are to enhance border security; improve workplace enforcement without burdening employers; provide an avenue for workers to enter the U.S. legally in response to economic conditions; and address the problems of the existing illegal workforce in a balanced manner. These elements are critical to eliminating illegal immigration while meeting U.S. security and economic needs.

The proposed bill

NRCA has supported establishing a temporary worker program that is governed by market forces, protects U.S. workers and enables employers to legally obtain the workers needed to grow their businesses. Flake's legislation would establish a pilot program based on these principles.

"This kind of flexible, market-based visa program designed to better meet economic demand is exactly the approach we need to bring U.S. immigration policy into the 21st century," Flake said in a statement announcing the bill's introduction.

S. 2827 contains strict requirements employers must follow when seeking U.S. workers before using the pilot program, including mandatory participation in the E-Verify system. The opportunity to participate is limited to counties or metro areas where the unemployment rate is less than 5 percent. The pilot program also enables workers to change jobs and work for any qualifying employers that have tested the labor market and proved they are unable to hire U.S. workers for their available positions. These and other provisions will ensure the pilot program is responsive to the needs of workers and employers.

NRCA looks forward to working with lawmakers to advance and perfect the legislation as a critical component of any efforts to achieve effective immigration reform. Addressing the roofing industry's labor crisis will be an important step toward fixing the dysfunctional U.S. immigration system.

The prospects for enacting the Flake bill are uncertain. The issue has become a political hot potato in the upcoming elections, and Congress is not expected to take up immigration-related bills for the remainder of 2016. Additionally, lawmakers are waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on a legal challenge brought by 26 states against President Obama's executive actions to defer deportation and provide work permits to certain illegal immigrants.

A waiting game

Whether the next Congress takes up immigration reform in 2017 will depend on numerous variables, including the outcome of the Supreme Court decision and results of the November presidential and congressional elections. But clearly, there will be significant pressure for the new president and Congress to address this volatile issue, and it is critical to begin working now to influence the upcoming debate.

NRCA commends Flake for his leadership in putting forward a bold proposal to add another dimension to the ongoing immigration reform debate. NRCA looks forward to working with him and other lawmakers to enact immigration legislation that meets the roofing industry's workforce development needs.

Duane L. Musser is NRCA's vice president of government relations.