Hotels, Restaurants, Retailers, Landowners, Citrus Growers Announce Multi-Industry Effort To Press Congress For Immigration Reform

The following is a press release:

Austin, TX — Several associations – spanning hotels, restaurants, landowners, citrus growers, and retailers – today announced their joint effort to press Congress to pass immigration reform this year. In addition to working from an association level, the organizations’ leadership indicated they will encourage their members to engage in urging Congress to fix our nation’s broken immigration system.

With so many Texas organizations and businesses passionate about immigration reform, Texas Restaurant Association CEO Richie Jackson said, “Now is the time for a unified effort.”

“Our Texas Congressional delegation, both Republicans and Democrats, should be leading the way in promoting a practical immigration reform and border solution. We in Texas are supposed to understand this issue better than anyone. Politics shouldn’t trump the realities of what is happening on the ground, which should be the priority,” said Robert Howard, spokesperson for South Texans' Property Rights Association.

“The members of Texas Hotel and Lodging Association have been calling for substantive immigration reform for years. Last year some progress was made, but the U.S. House has failed to act. It is time for immigration reform to become a reality,” said Justin Bragiel, general counsel for the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association.

“Many industries face difficulties filling their open jobs with American workers. The restaurant industry is one of them. Our challenges aren’t confined to staffing our restaurants themselves and our challenges aren’t limited to the restaurant industry. A broken immigration system makes it difficult for all business sectors to build new projects and invest in growing our businesses,” said Jackson of the Texas Restaurant Association. “Our hope is that by working together, the industries represented here today can make a difference and get Congress moving on immigration reform.”

Participants in today’s press conference included:
Richie Jackson, CEO, Texas Restaurant Association
Justin Bragiel, General Counsel, Texas Hotel and Lodging Association
Ronnie Volkening, President, Texas Association of Retailers
Ray Prewett, President, Texas Citrus Growers
Robert Norman, Executive Director, South Texas Property Rights Association
Other coalition participants:
Texas Association of Business
Home Builders Association of Greater Austin
Texas Citrus and Vegetable Growers