{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-vasquez-introduces-bill-strengthen-americas-labor-force-and-support", "Rep. Vasquez Introduces Bill to Strengthen America\u2019s Labor Force and Support Workers", "2025-09-02", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Gabe Vasquez", "V000136", "vasquez.house.gov", "vasquez", "https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On September 2, 2025, U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) pushed to strengthen America\u2019s labor force and support workers by introducing the Strengthening Our Workforce Act. The bill provides non-citizens working in critical sectors \u2014 including agriculture, health care, and emergency workers \u2014 a path to lawful permanent status, bringing much-needed stability for workers who make up the backbone of the American economy.\n\n\u201cPeople who work hard, follow the rules, and play a vital role in our economy should never be forced to live in the shadows or in fear of mass deportation,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cThese individuals do right by us \u2014 contributing to the fabric of our communities and putting in long hours to keep our families fed, loved ones cared for, and economy running. It\u2019s time we do right by them by offering the dignified pathway to legal status that they deserve and American businesses need. This is about humanity, fairness, and the long-term strength of our economy.\u201d\n\nThe Strengthening Our Workforce Act provides a two-year conditional status for non-citizens who meet strict criteria and work in critical industries such as health care, energy, agriculture, emergency response, education, hospitality, construction, home health care, and childcare.\n\nTo receive conditional lawful permanent residency status, workers must:\n\nWork in a critical industry and covered profession.\n\nHave been physically present in the United States as of January 1, 2024.\n\nRemain physically present in the United States for the duration of conditional status.\n\nHave been employed in a covered profession for at least 100 days before applying.\n\nMaintain 100 days of annual employment in a covered profession for 2 consecutive years.\n\nPay a fine and be in good legal standing.\n\nWorkers who meet these strict criteria and complete two-year conditional status then qualify for lawful permanent residency.\n\nRep. Juan Vargas (CA-52), Rep. Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Rep. Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Rep. Angie Craig (MN-02) are bill co-sponsors.\n\n\u201cRight now, Trump is implementing an out of control anti-immigrant crackdown. Families are scared of being torn apart. People who have spent decades living and working in this country are afraid to drop their kids off at school, show up to their jobs, and go about their lives. It\u2019s unacceptable,\u201d said Rep. Vargas. \u201cAs the proud son of Mexican immigrants, I know that immigrants make our country stronger. It\u2019s past time to fix our broken immigration system and create better pathways to citizenship. I\u2019m proud to help introduce this legislation to bring us closer to an immigration system that centers humanity, dignity, and justice.\u201d\n\n\u201cImmigrant workers are a key part of New Mexico\u2019s economy, and they deserve recognition for their essential role in keeping our state and country running. For years, progress on immigration reform has been delayed, leaving workers without real solutions. Congressman Vasquez\u2019s Strengthening Our Workforce Act offers critical workers a fair pathway to permanent residency. At Somos Un Pueblo Unido, we will continue championing common-sense policies that welcome and integrate immigrants, not the fear-driven tactics designed to tear our communities apart\u201d, said Marcela D\u00edaz, Executive Director of Somos Un Pueblo Unido.\n\n\u201cThe Strengthening Our Workforce Act adds to the growing bipartisan Congressional momentum to end the mass deportation efforts that are causing labor shortages and loss of consumer spending by the immigrant community, both of which are pushing revenue down for small businesses,\u201d said Frank Knapp Jr, managing director of the Secure Growth Initiative, a national small business coalition representing over 100,000 small business voices. \u201cWe are proud to support Congressman Vasquez\u2019s legislation and other bills that address the concerns of our coalition.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt's encouraging to see lawmakers offering a solution to the significant challenges the current immigration enforcement policies are creating for our nation\u2019s small businesses,\u201d said David Chase, Vice President of the Small Business Majority, which provides leadership for the national small business coalition Secure Growth Initiative. \u201cImmigrants are a vital and irreplaceable component of America's small business ecosystem, and our nation's small firms will have far more opportunities to succeed when undocumented people are able to earn permanent legal status as allowed by the Strengthening Our Workforce Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s time for Congress to protect our economy and small businesses as the Strengthening Our Workforce Act would do,\u201d said Matt Foster, Vice President of the SC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a founding member of the Secure Growth Initiative national small business coalition. \u201cUndocumented immigrants provide essential labor, which small businesses across the country will not be able to replace. Without these individuals, our small businesses would suffer.\u201d\n\nRep. Vasquez is leading the charge for immigration and economic reforms that are critical for Southern New Mexico and the country. This legislation builds on the New Dem Immigration & Border Security Framework he is leading in Congress which offers a balanced, humane, and comprehensive approach to border security and immigration policy to keep communities safe while upholding the dignity of all people. He also reintroduced his No More Narcos Act and the Stop COYOTES Act, a pair of bipartisan bills to combat cartels and smuggling at the southern border, and his Economic Opportunity for Border Communities Act to develop a national strategy for strengthening economies along the U.S.-Mexico border.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T15:07:37Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-vasquez-introduces-bill-strengthen-americas-labor-force-and-support"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.9919457845389843, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}