The Dignity Act with Congresswoman Maria Salazar (R-FL)
The MCAA hosted a webinar with Congresswoman Maria Salazar on July 26th in which attendees had the opportunity to learn more about The Dignity Act and pose important questions. In case you missed it, The Dignity Act provides a reasonable, compassionate, and complete solution to America’s immigration crisis. It ends illegal immigration to the United States once and for all, reestablishes law and order, provides a practical solution for the undocumented, revitalizes the American workforce, and restores America’s economy.
Addressing Immigration and Border Security
The Dignity Act offers a comprehensive approach to the pressing issue of immigration, allocating $25 billion to secure the border fully. It will strengthen our national security while also creating a safer, more stable environment for businesses to operate.
- Provides all the necessary infrastructure, personnel, and technology to stop illegal immigration.
- Expedites asylum processing to decide cases in 60 days. Ends catch and release.
- Implements mandatory E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility for workers.
- Stops criminals, gangs, and cartels from exploiting our immigration system.
Creating a Pathway for Legal Workforce
By providing a structured, legal pathway for immigration, the Act allows us to access a larger pool of workers. This helps address the labor shortage that we, and many other industries, are currently facing, allowing American businesses to grow and prosper.
- Provides a practical solution for the undocumented.
- Immediate status and earned pathway for Dreamers.
- Creates Dignity Program offering a 7-year temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants.
- Must pass a criminal background check.
- Pay $5,000 in restitution over 7 years.
- No federal benefits or entitlements.
- Optional +5-year redemption path for those completing 7-year Dignity Program.
- Must learn English and U.S. civics.
- Pay additional restitution and do community service.
- Can earn permanent legal status and go to the back of the line.
Increasing Skilled Worker Visas
The Act includes provisions to increase H2B visa opportunities, which would bring in more skilled masons to the U.S. This directly helps our industry to meet the demand for skilled labor, driving our productivity and contributing positively to the economy.
- Creates a new fund for training and upskilling American workers.
- Offers apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and higher education.
- Uses funds paid by immigrants in the Dignity Program.
- Every participant in Dignity will train or retrain at least 1 American worker.
- Saves American industries.
- Addresses labor shortages, supply chain issues, and inflation.
- American Agricultural Dominance.
- Increases productivity for farmers and ranchers with a year-round H2A workforce.
- Provides stability for farmers so they can keep grocery stores stocked and food affordable.
Fostering Economic Prosperity
The Dignity Act takes steps to ensure a competitive workforce for the future. It sets up a fund for training and upskilling American workers, using the fees paid by the Dignity Program. This supports MCAA's mission of preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education and recruiting future manpower.
- Fixes our legal immigration system to ensure a competitive workforce for the future.
- Increases high-skilled EB worker visa opportunities and reduces backlogs.
- Includes Returning Worker Exemption Act to increase H2B visa opportunities.
- Funds improvements for Ports of Entry to increase legal commerce.
Funding without Taxpayer Burden
An essential feature of the Dignity Act is that it does not require taxpayer funding. It is financed entirely through fees and restitution payments. This financial independence means that the Act can accomplish its goals without adding an extra financial burden on the American people.
About the Author
The Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) is the national trade association representing mason contractors. The MCAA is committed to preserving and promoting the masonry industry by providing continuing education, advocating fair codes and standards, fostering a safe work environment, recruiting future manpower, and marketing the benefits of masonry materials.
