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S.C.R. 5
This document includes Senate Committee Amendments incorporated into the bill on
Mon, Feb 18, 2008 at 9:02 AM by rday. -->
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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CALLING FOR
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CONGRESS TO PASS BALANCED
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IMMIGRATION REFORM
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2008 GENERAL SESSION
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STATE OF UTAH
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Chief Sponsor: Howard A. Stephenson
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House Sponsor:
Melvin R. Brown
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LONG TITLE
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General Description:
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This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges Utah's
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congressional delegation to work with the United States Congress to pass effective and
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meaningful immigration reform to enhance the workforce of Utah and continue the
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economic strength of the state's business environment.
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Highlighted Provisions:
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This resolution:
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. urges Utah's congressional delegation to work with the United States Congress to
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pass effective and meaningful immigration reform;
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. urges Utah's congressional delegation to work with the United States Congress to
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ensure that any reform efforts focus primarily on enabling Utah's employers to hire a
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legal workforce sufficient to meet the needs of Utah industries to enhance the
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economic growth of the state's private sector;
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. urges Congress to reduce the delay for legal immigration, including reforming visa
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systems;
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. opposes granting blanket amnesty to undocumented persons;
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. recognizes that addressing the status of millions of undocumented persons currently
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present in the U.S. is a complex issue; and
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S. [
. urges all components of state government to work to ensure that any efforts to effect
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immigration laws, or laws related to Utah's workforce that impact immigration, be
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deferred until Congress passes immigration reform.
] .S
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Special Clauses:
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None
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Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
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WHEREAS, the economic relationship with Mexico, which shares our border, is vital
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to the United States because Mexico is the United States' second most important trading
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partner, the United States is Mexico's most important trading partner, and the U.S. is the largest
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source of direct foreign investment in Mexico;
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WHEREAS, economic, historic, and cultural ties between the U.S. and Mexico are
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critical to many U.S. industries, including many in Utah;
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WHEREAS, as a result of their shared borders and proximity to Mexico, western states,
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including Utah, suffer a disproportionate financial burden on health care, education, the
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environment, and criminal justice systems because of unauthorized immigration from Mexico,
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affecting the economy of the entire region;
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WHEREAS, the economic impacts may be offset by allowing more legal and readily
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available foreign workers to enter the U.S.;
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WHEREAS, seasonal industries, including agriculture and hospitality, historically and
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currently play a pivotal role in Utah's economy, and are heavily dependent upon a stable and
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reliable foreign labor pool; and
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WHEREAS, current immigration law addresses neither documented U.S. labor
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shortages nor marketplace dynamics, and without a lawful avenue to provide seasonal
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employees, encourages continued unlawful immigration to the U.S. which continues to
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negatively impact the state's economy:
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
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Governor concurring therein, expresses support for the development of a balanced national
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immigration policy with the overarching purpose of protecting and preserving the safety and
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interests of the United States and its citizens while recognizing the needs of Utah industries to
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have a stable and legal supply of workers quickly available where there are no U.S. workers
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otherwise available.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge Utah's
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congressional delegation to work with the United States Congress to ensure that any reform
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efforts focus primarily on enabling Utah's employers to hire a legal workforce sufficient to
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meet the needs of Utah industries to enhance the economic growth of the state's private sector.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge Congress to
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reform the current systems for obtaining work visas and reduce the delay for legal immigration.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor express their
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opposition to granting blanket amnesty to undocumented persons and urge that appropriate
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sanctions be a part of any solution.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor recognize that
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addressing the status of millions of undocumented persons currently present in the U.S. is a
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complex issue.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge that in
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passing immigration reform Congress not inadvertently create unnecessary hurdles and lengthy
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delays for those who wish to legally hire non-U.S. workers.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge that in
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passing immigration reform Congress not inadvertently create incentives for additional illegal
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immigration by creating unnecessary hurdles and lengthy delays for those who wish to
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immigrate legally for work or citizenship.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge Congress to
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reform the Foreign Worker Visa system as part of any immigration reform.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge Congress to
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eliminate current visa backlogs and prevent future backlogs to help meet Utah workforce
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demands.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor recommend that
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these tasks can be accomplished by:
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(1) dramatically increasing the annual immigrant visa caps, including the limits on
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H-1B and H-2B visas, particularly in the industries requiring highly trained and educated
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workers and seasonal hospitality operations;
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(2) streamlining the processing of H-2A visas to create a more workable system to
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enable agricultural employers to hire needed foreign workers for seasonal jobs;
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(3) maintaining the L-1 visa program; and
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(4) expediting work authorization for foreign nationals who complete University-level
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degrees in U.S. institutions to ensure that the benefits of the educational investment the nation
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has made in these individuals remains in the U.S.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge Congress to
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ensure the enforcement of current federal employer sanctions for knowingly hiring
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undocumented labor, which requires the federal government to adopt a secure, reliable, and fast
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employment verification system accessible to employers electronically 24 hours a day.
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S. [
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge that all
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components of Utah state government work to ensure that any efforts to effect immigration
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laws or laws related to Utah's workforce that impact immigration be deferred until Congress
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passes immigration reform pursuant to the principles stated in this resolution.
] .S
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be sent to the Majority
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Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
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the United States Department of Homeland Security, and to the members of Utah's
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congressional delegation.
Legislative Review Note
as of 1-25-08 3:53 PM