FIND A CONTRACTOR BUYER'S GUIDE
BECOME AN INDUSTRY PARTNER
MCAA Logo
MEMBER LOGIN JOIN
NEWS
The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction is Now Open ↗

Government Affairs: Dignity Act Is Back and So Are Our Marching Orders!

Words: Stephen Borg


The Dignity Act is back! Congresswoman Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (D-TX) have re-introduced the Dignity Act, their comprehensive border security and immigration law reform legislation and we need to hit the ground running to once again show our support to Members of Congress across the political spectrum. Our Legislative Committee Co-Chairs, Mackie Bounds (Texas) and Lanc Schmitt (Oklahoma), are hitting up every Member of Congress from Texas and Oklahoma, every MCAA Board Member is touching base with their Members of Congress and we need you to start reaching out to your Members of Congress as well!

The Dignity Act was officially introduced on July 15, 2025 as H.R. 4393 with 22 bipartisan sponsors, 11 Republican and 11 Democrat. The full list of original sponsors is below:


  • Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL)
  • Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX)
  • Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY)
  • Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
  • Rep. David Valadao (R-CA)
  • Rep Hillary Scholten (D-MI)
  • Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA)
  • Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV)
  • Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA)
  • Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA)
  • Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA)
  • Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
  • Rep. Gabe Evans (R-CO)
  • Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA)
  • Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)
  • Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-IL)
  • Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE)
  • Rep. Laura Gillen (D-NY)
  • Rep. Young Kim (R-CA)
  • Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA)
  • Rep. Marion Diaz-Balart (R-FL)
  • Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA)
To keep the momentum going and ensure we shut down our border while at the same time ensuring you have a reliable, steady flow of legal workforce, while at the same time drying up pipelines for contractors illegally hiring and paying “employees” we need you reaching out to as many Members of Congress as possible asking them to add their name as a cosponsor of H.R. 4393, the Dignity Act. I have included a summary of the bill below for your review but please join your voice to the dozens of other MCAA members pushing this bill forward and let’s get it to the President’s desk!

What is in the Dignity Act of 2025?
Topline: The Dignity Act secures the border, implements enforcement measures, fixes our asylum system, provides Dignity to long-term immigrants, supports American Workers, and improves our legal immigration system.

Border Security:
  • Maintains complete operational control of the Southern Border.
  • Mandates construction of enhanced physical barriers.
  • Deploys improved technology at the border.
Interior Enforcement:
  • Implements nationwide mandatory E-Verify.
  • Increases penalties for illegal border crossers.
  • Enacts strongest penalties possible for child sex traffickers.
  • Requires DNA testing for family verification.
Asylum:
  • Ends catch-and-release.
  • Builds humanitarian campuses near the southern border to process asylum seekers in federal custody.
  • Expedites asylum processing - determinations within 60 days.
  • Increases penalties for asylum fraud.

Dignity Program:
  • Creates Dignity Program offering a 7-year temporary legal status for undocumented immigrants that have been here 5 years or more (since before 2021).
  • Must pass a criminal background check.
  • Must pay $7,000 in restitution over 7 years.
  • No federal benefits or entitlements.
  • No path to citizenship.
  • Once completed, can continue to stay and work in the United States.
American Workers and the Economy:
  • Creates a new $70 billion fund for training and upskilling American Workers.
  • Offers grants for apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and higher education.
  • Uses funds paid by Immigrants in the Dignity Program.
  • Supports American industries by addressing labor shortages.
  • Ensures we have the agricultural workforce to keep grocery stores stocked and food affordable.
Economic Growth and Prosperity:
  • Fixes our legal immigration system to ensure a competitive workforce for the future.
  • Reduces backlogs for high-skilled Employment Based (EB) worker visas.
  • Funds improvements for Ports of Entry to increase legal commerce and expedite cross-border trade.
  • Pays down U.S. debt by at least $50 billion.
*This bill uses no taxpayer funding, is fully paid for with fees and restitution payments from illegal immigrants, and pays down the national debt.



About: Legislative
 0
Is Contact with Wet Mortar or Grout Dangerous?
April 2026

In the world of masonry, few materials are as common as mortar and grout. Whether you are laying brick, concrete masonry units (CMU), or pouring grout into masonry walls, wet cement and mortar are constant companions. However, beneath their utility lies a

Zach Everett
Technical Talks
Read More
The Importance of Instructor Support
April 2026

Whether you are a new or veteran masonry instructor, we all need support throughout our careers. We can never stop learning, and keeping up with ever-changing technology, materials, and installation techniques can be overwhelming alongside the everyday pr

Curtis Hoover
Resources
Read More
Vibing Masonry #11: Innovative Concrete Masonry Technologies in Healthcare Design
April 2026

In the high-stakes environment of healthcare design, every material choice is a clinical decision. Architects, engineers, and facility administrators are tasked with creating spaces that are not only resilient and code-compliant but also conducive to heal

Steve Blye
Technical Talks
Read More
Why Termination Bars Still Matter: A Practical Look at Long‑Term Flashing Performance
April 2026

In recent discussions across the masonry industry, I have heard termination bars described as “old school.” The implication is that with modern materials, primerless peel-and-stick flashings, advanced sealants, and structural insulated sheathing, mechanic

Linda Potter
Technical Talks
Read More