FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Urges
Members to Take Action: Call on Congress to Pass A
Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Applauds
Tennesseans business and community leadership on the issue
The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Middle Tennessee'slongest-running, most influential Hispanic business membership association, urges members to take action and call on Congress to pass a Comprehensive Immigration Reform Package.
As a leading voice for Hispanic businesses, the NAHCC commends the leadership in our state for recognizing that immigration reform is an important economic imperative. The NAHCC commends the leadership of Tennesseans for Immigration Reform in support of bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform.
There are an estimated 11 million undocumented workers currently in the U.S. Without fear of deportation or prosecution, these individuals, if authorized to work or start a business, can help boost our American economy. More importantly, comprehensive immigration reform promises an end to the underground U.S. labor market in undocumented immigrants and will allow U.S. businesses to safely and reliably meet their labor demands.
The Latino community is united in wanting to fix our nation’s broken immigration policies. With 38 percent of Hispanics in the U.S. being foreign-born, this is an issue that impacts us, our families, and our neighbors.
“Comprehensive immigration reform is long overdue as it compromises the economic growth potential and prosperity of our nation if not addressed in an expeditious matter. And it is good for business, as it facilitates a pathway for compliance and new opportunities for immigrant workers who are filling a critical gap in the U.S. workforce” says Yuri Cunza, NAHCC President and CEO.
By presenting a unified front with a single voice, business, civic and community leaders from across Tennessee can play a critical role in our national debate as we take the necessary steps to resolve this issue.
"As the chair of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, I support the growing movement and voices for immigration reform. Let’s continue working together towards that goal" said Mario Ramos, NAHCC chairman.
The NAHCC is committed to promoting the economic development of our region and to continue fostering the intrinsic leadership potential of Hispanic entrepreneurs in Tennessee. Hispanic owned businesses are the fastest growing population of American business enterprises and are at the forefront of our nation's economic growth. Hispanic communities have an entrepreneurial spirit and lead the nation in small business start ups, presenting a potential source for future innovation, and job creation.
Here’s what we know about immigrants in the economy:
- As baby boomers retire, immigrants are essential to keeping the U.S. workforce young.
- Immigrants fill important jobs at both the low- and the high-skilled ends of our economy, from construction and agriculture to computer science.
- Immigrants are more than twice as likely to start businesses than native-born Americans. Therefore, supporting American immigrant communities also supports the creation of small
businesses.
- In the high-skilled sectors studied, immigrants are slightly more educated than native-born workers, including in the information technology industry, where 87.2% of immigrant workers have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 72.5% of native-born workers.
- America attracts the best and brightest minds from around the world, and year after year, our shores receive new investors, entrepreneurs, students and workers of every stripe.
- Immigration is an integral component of our economic policy and directly impacts the competitiveness of our country's workforce.
- Innovation drives the American economy, and without good ideas and skilled workers, our country won't be able to transform industries or lead the global economy as effectively as it has done for decades.
- These immigrants bring with them ideas, initiative, and above all, a strong work ethic and desire to succeed.
- Immigrant-owned businesses generate an estimated $775 billion in annual revenue and employ 1 out of every 10 American workers.
- 40% of Fortune 500 companies were started by immigrants or the children of immigrants.
Google, AT&T, Ebay, Intel and Kohl's are among the companies started by immigrants or first generation Americans.
- Hispanics are opening businesses at a faster rate than any other group and it is Latina
entrepreneurs who are leading the charge. The rate of Latina’s starting up companies is six times the national average, thereby contributing an average of $56 billion to America's economy each year.
- Latina business owners have played a major part in the 44% growth of Hispanic-owned
business in recent years and provide a collectiveboost to the American economy of an estimated $465 billion annually.
Given the proven entrepreneurial impact of immigrant owned businesses, one cannot claim to support small business without supporting immigrant-owned businesses!
"Today is a day of great importance for us as we join Tennesseans for Immigration Reform. By coming together finally we are demonstrating how sensitive we are to our citizens needs while acknowledging the outstanding contributions made by immigrants to the cultural richness and diversity of our country. This is a great beginning, as we continue the conversation that will benefit us all as a nation, one that will make us stronger" added Cunza.
With Tennesseans for Immigration Reform as allies on the issue of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, the NAHCC is confident that more business, civic and community leaders will join in support.
*The NAHCC is a member of the Partnership For A New American Economy, Tennesseans For Immigration Reform and The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda.
NAHCC CALL TO ACTION
We are coming together to call on Congress to respond to the growing movement for comprehensive immigration reform. During this critical time, it is important for our Congress Representatives to hear from Corporate Citizens, including Hispanic business-owners in Tennessee on the need for comprehensive immigration reform and to voice out our policy
priorities. We support sensible, workable and comprehensive immigration reform that helps create:
- A modern immigration system that actually works -- is easier to understand, navigate and implement;
- A modern immigration system that ensures all immigration laws are enforced, obeyed and our borders secured;
- A modern immigration system to attract, then keep the world’s top students, innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators here in the U.S.;
- A modern immigration system that recruits and deploys the workers we need to fill both the high- and low-skilled sectors of our economy;
- A modern immigration system that brings nearly 11 million undocumented workers currently living in the shadows into the legal economy so they can learn our language and history, pay more in taxes and contribute to a growing American economy.
CALL CONGRESS TODAY!
Senator Lamar Alexander http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/ (202) 224-4944
Senator Bob Corker http://www.corker.senate.gov/public/ (202) 224-3344
and TN Congressional Delegation http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TN
Tell the person answering the phone that you are a constituent and have a comment regarding immigration reform. Please make sure to give them your name, name of your business, and mailing address. Use the additional talking points below. Be respectful of their time – finish the call once you get your message across.
Call again for the second Senator for Tennessee.
ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS
* 70% of all Americans favor comprehensive reform that provides a pathway to citizenship.
* Any reform must not unduly burden small businesses with ineffective verification systems.
* America needs a strong temporary worker program to do those jobs that American citizens will not do.
* 500 economists, including five Nobel Prize winners, have stressed that immigration is a net economic gain for America and the economic benefits it produces is "the greatest anti-poverty program ever devised.”
* These costs are investments in America's future. In a country that absorbs about one million newcomers per year, each yearly influx of immigrants pays $80 billion more in taxes over the course of a lifetime than it consumes in services.
* Our immigration system is broken, and if we do not enact fair and comprehensive immigration legislation, it is unlikely that immigration reform will be addressed until several years from now.
* Immigrants are not on welfare. They don't qualify for welfare benefits and have a strong work ethic. 92 percent of working-age immigrants are employed.
As a leading voice for Hispanic businesses, the NAHCC commends the leadership in our state for recognizing that immigration reform is an important economic imperative. The NAHCC commends the leadership of Tennesseans for Immigration Reform in support of bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform.
There are an estimated 11 million undocumented workers currently in the U.S. Without fear of deportation or prosecution, these individuals, if authorized to work or start a business, can help boost our American economy. More importantly, comprehensive immigration reform promises an end to the underground U.S. labor market in undocumented immigrants and will allow U.S. businesses to safely and reliably meet their labor demands.
The Latino community is united in wanting to fix our nation’s broken immigration policies. With 38 percent of Hispanics in the U.S. being foreign-born, this is an issue that impacts us, our families, and our neighbors.
“Comprehensive immigration reform is long overdue as it compromises the economic growth potential and prosperity of our nation if not addressed in an expeditious matter. And it is good for business, as it facilitates a pathway for compliance and new opportunities for immigrant workers who are filling a critical gap in the U.S. workforce” says Yuri Cunza, NAHCC President and CEO.
By presenting a unified front with a single voice, business, civic and community leaders from across Tennessee can play a critical role in our national debate as we take the necessary steps to resolve this issue.
"As the chair of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, I support the growing movement and voices for immigration reform. Let’s continue working together towards that goal" said Mario Ramos, NAHCC chairman.
The NAHCC is committed to promoting the economic development of our region and to continue fostering the intrinsic leadership potential of Hispanic entrepreneurs in Tennessee. Hispanic owned businesses are the fastest growing population of American business enterprises and are at the forefront of our nation's economic growth. Hispanic communities have an entrepreneurial spirit and lead the nation in small business start ups, presenting a potential source for future innovation, and job creation.
Here’s what we know about immigrants in the economy:
- As baby boomers retire, immigrants are essential to keeping the U.S. workforce young.
- Immigrants fill important jobs at both the low- and the high-skilled ends of our economy, from construction and agriculture to computer science.
- Immigrants are more than twice as likely to start businesses than native-born Americans. Therefore, supporting American immigrant communities also supports the creation of small
businesses.
- In the high-skilled sectors studied, immigrants are slightly more educated than native-born workers, including in the information technology industry, where 87.2% of immigrant workers have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 72.5% of native-born workers.
- America attracts the best and brightest minds from around the world, and year after year, our shores receive new investors, entrepreneurs, students and workers of every stripe.
- Immigration is an integral component of our economic policy and directly impacts the competitiveness of our country's workforce.
- Innovation drives the American economy, and without good ideas and skilled workers, our country won't be able to transform industries or lead the global economy as effectively as it has done for decades.
- These immigrants bring with them ideas, initiative, and above all, a strong work ethic and desire to succeed.
- Immigrant-owned businesses generate an estimated $775 billion in annual revenue and employ 1 out of every 10 American workers.
- 40% of Fortune 500 companies were started by immigrants or the children of immigrants.
Google, AT&T, Ebay, Intel and Kohl's are among the companies started by immigrants or first generation Americans.
- Hispanics are opening businesses at a faster rate than any other group and it is Latina
entrepreneurs who are leading the charge. The rate of Latina’s starting up companies is six times the national average, thereby contributing an average of $56 billion to America's economy each year.
- Latina business owners have played a major part in the 44% growth of Hispanic-owned
business in recent years and provide a collectiveboost to the American economy of an estimated $465 billion annually.
Given the proven entrepreneurial impact of immigrant owned businesses, one cannot claim to support small business without supporting immigrant-owned businesses!
"Today is a day of great importance for us as we join Tennesseans for Immigration Reform. By coming together finally we are demonstrating how sensitive we are to our citizens needs while acknowledging the outstanding contributions made by immigrants to the cultural richness and diversity of our country. This is a great beginning, as we continue the conversation that will benefit us all as a nation, one that will make us stronger" added Cunza.
With Tennesseans for Immigration Reform as allies on the issue of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, the NAHCC is confident that more business, civic and community leaders will join in support.
*The NAHCC is a member of the Partnership For A New American Economy, Tennesseans For Immigration Reform and The National Hispanic Leadership Agenda.
NAHCC CALL TO ACTION
We are coming together to call on Congress to respond to the growing movement for comprehensive immigration reform. During this critical time, it is important for our Congress Representatives to hear from Corporate Citizens, including Hispanic business-owners in Tennessee on the need for comprehensive immigration reform and to voice out our policy
priorities. We support sensible, workable and comprehensive immigration reform that helps create:
- A modern immigration system that actually works -- is easier to understand, navigate and implement;
- A modern immigration system that ensures all immigration laws are enforced, obeyed and our borders secured;
- A modern immigration system to attract, then keep the world’s top students, innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators here in the U.S.;
- A modern immigration system that recruits and deploys the workers we need to fill both the high- and low-skilled sectors of our economy;
- A modern immigration system that brings nearly 11 million undocumented workers currently living in the shadows into the legal economy so they can learn our language and history, pay more in taxes and contribute to a growing American economy.
CALL CONGRESS TODAY!
Senator Lamar Alexander http://www.alexander.senate.gov/public/ (202) 224-4944
Senator Bob Corker http://www.corker.senate.gov/public/ (202) 224-3344
and TN Congressional Delegation http://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TN
Tell the person answering the phone that you are a constituent and have a comment regarding immigration reform. Please make sure to give them your name, name of your business, and mailing address. Use the additional talking points below. Be respectful of their time – finish the call once you get your message across.
Call again for the second Senator for Tennessee.
ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS
* 70% of all Americans favor comprehensive reform that provides a pathway to citizenship.
* Any reform must not unduly burden small businesses with ineffective verification systems.
* America needs a strong temporary worker program to do those jobs that American citizens will not do.
* 500 economists, including five Nobel Prize winners, have stressed that immigration is a net economic gain for America and the economic benefits it produces is "the greatest anti-poverty program ever devised.”
* These costs are investments in America's future. In a country that absorbs about one million newcomers per year, each yearly influx of immigrants pays $80 billion more in taxes over the course of a lifetime than it consumes in services.
* Our immigration system is broken, and if we do not enact fair and comprehensive immigration legislation, it is unlikely that immigration reform will be addressed until several years from now.
* Immigrants are not on welfare. They don't qualify for welfare benefits and have a strong work ethic. 92 percent of working-age immigrants are employed.
ABOUT THE NAHCC
The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NAHCC) is the oldest and largest Hispanic business association in Middle Tennessee. Founded in January 20th 2000 NAHCC represents more than 250 businesses, entrepreneurs, professionals and organizations with interest in Nashville's booming Hispanic market.
In 2010 the organization began exploring the formation of chapters in Murfreesboro, Franklin, Chattanooga and Clarksville.
Through strategic partnerships across the state, and continued interest and ongoing participation in the federal, state and local legislative agenda, the NAHCC helps promote legislation and policies that positively affect Hispanic businesses and the overall growth,
prosperity and development of our region.
For more please visit www.nashvillehispanicchamber.com
The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NAHCC) is the oldest and largest Hispanic business association in Middle Tennessee. Founded in January 20th 2000 NAHCC represents more than 250 businesses, entrepreneurs, professionals and organizations with interest in Nashville's booming Hispanic market.
In 2010 the organization began exploring the formation of chapters in Murfreesboro, Franklin, Chattanooga and Clarksville.
Through strategic partnerships across the state, and continued interest and ongoing participation in the federal, state and local legislative agenda, the NAHCC helps promote legislation and policies that positively affect Hispanic businesses and the overall growth,
prosperity and development of our region.
For more please visit www.nashvillehispanicchamber.com
Contact Us
E: info@nashvillehispanicchamber.com
P: 615-216-5737 Mailing Address Nashville Hispanic Chamber (NAHCC) PO Box 40541 Nashville, TN 37204 USA |
Subscribe
Join our mailing list today!
|
Location
|