WASHINGTON , Dec. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to the selection of Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.) as Secretary of Labor in the Obama administration, Dan Stein , president of FAIR, issued the following statement:
"President-elect Obama's selection of a labor secretary who has steadfastly opposed protecting American workers from the impact of millions of illegal aliens in our labor force is yet another blow to hard-working families who desperately need those jobs. Both in Congress and as a member of the California Legislature, Hilda Solis has vigorously opposed efforts to institute and enforce laws against employing illegal aliens.
"If confirmed, Rep. Solis will assume the helm of the Department of Labor at a time when American workers face the worst crisis in generations. The U.S. economy has lost 1.25 million jobs during the last three months, and that crisis is likely to be exacerbated as the effects of the announced Chrysler shut-down ripple across the economy.
"The Department of Labor has a critical role to play in developing and enforcing a system that holds all employers accountable for ensuring that the workers they hire are legally entitled to work in the U.S., in addition to ensuring that wage and safety standards are enforced. At a time when the nation is facing an unemployment crisis, we need a Labor secretary who is prepared to defend the interests of American workers, not an advocate for the rights of illegal aliens. Sadly, Rep. Solis's record does not indicate that she will be the strong advocate desperate American workers need in their corner.
"We hope that as president, Mr. Obama will uphold the trust the voters placed in him and make protecting the jobs of American workers a top priority. With more than 10 million Americans unemployed and millions more underemployed, it is essential that the new president direct all cabinet officers to use the authority of the federal government to ensure that American jobs are filled by legal U.S. workers."
Rep. Solis's Record in Congress
Rep. Solis was a cosponsor in 2007 of H.R. 1645, the STRIVE Act. The STRIVE Act would have granted amnesty to an estimated 12 million illegal aliens and severely undermined the interests of U.S. workers. H.R. 1645 would have:
-- Created a new H-2C guest worker visa, adding between 400,000 and 600,000 new foreign guest workers. These workers would have been permitted to apply for permanent residency. -- Allowed employers to layoff American workers in order to hire H-2C workers. -- Doubled the number of employment-based immigration visas.Other key votes relating to the interests of American workers included:
-- Support for allowing illegal aliens to collect Social Security benefits. -- Opposition to REAL ID Act necessary to prevent illegal aliens from using fake IDs to gain employment. -- Opposition to a measure to increase funding for E-Verify program. -- Support, as a member of the California Legislature, for driver's licenses for illegal aliens.About FAIR
Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest and oldest immigration reform group. With over 250,000 members nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.
SOURCE FAIR
