Reps. Poe and Labrador Working to Double Low-Skilled Worker Visas
Reps. Raul Labrador (R-Id.) and Ted Poe (R-Texas) are working on legislation that could potentially double the number of low-skilled worker visas offered in the Schumer-Obama amnesty bill, S.744. The proposal could increase the number of guest worker visas from the 200,000 set forth by the Senate bill to 400,000.
The concern is not just the horrible impact this proposal could have low-skilled unemployed Americans, but it could also disrupt the fragile agreement between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO regarding the guest worker visa provisions in S.744.
Both Reps. Labrador and Poe don't think the 200,000 cap in the Senate bill is enough. The bill also contains special protections for some industries, including construction.
"We could use 15,000 [visas] the first day in Texas. We have that much demand for construction workers," Rep. Poe told the Wall Street Journal.
The AFL-CIO has already criticized the rumored legislation, while the Chamber of Commerce has yet to take a position.
"We obviously think it's ridiculous that they would attempt to reopen a done deal," said AFL-CIO spokesman Jeff Hauser.
"We haven't seen it and have not taken a position yet," a spokeswoman for the Chamber of Commerce said.
For more information, see the Wall Street Journal.