Happy New Year! And to our friends in Australia, Happy Australia Day this Jan. 26.
Fast forward 12 months to January 2017: We have a new president of the country. We now have to live with that president and government for the next four years.
Back to the present: We have 10 months left in this election campaign to tell the candidates about our nation’s hot button issues—many that have serious impacts on our industry.
Our daily routines are affected by national security, national health, Social Security, domestic economy, foreign policy, labor relations, embargoes, tariffs, climate change and so on. What is your opinion on these issues? Can you use your influence to impact the election’s outcome, or will you let others decide our fate?
An issue to address is illegal immigration. In 2015, the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry adopted a position on illegal immigration consistent with the rest of the construction industry. Presidential candidates and congressional candidates need to read and employ this. It is an important position of thousands of like-minded business owners.
People are our most valuable asset and most important part of our economy. Media report there are 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, yet it is illegal to employ an undocumented worker. Yet they are here and working and living among us. Let’s get them out of the shadows and into the law abiding system.
AWCI supports clear, sensible reform of the immigration system that
- addresses future economic needs for workers through the creation of a guest worker program.
- practically addresses undocumented workers already in the United States.
- functions efficiently for employers and workers, including the implementation of an accurate, reliable and effective system to verify employment eligibility.
- effective enforcement by government agencies.
- allows hard-working, tax-paying undocumented workers to earn legal status.
- ensures U.S. workers are not displaced by foreign workers.
- ensures all workers enjoy the same labor law protections.
- strengthens national security by screening foreign workers and creating disincentives for illegal immigration.
- secures the borders.
If your candidate has any questions, have them call me and I will be happy to share my opinion on your behalf.
In addition to being 2015–2016 president of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry, Hinson is president of the Dallas division of Marek.
