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JOSEPH
K. KNOLLENBERG |
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COMMITTEE
ON APPROPRIATIONS |
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11th
District Michigan |
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SUBCOMMITTEES: |
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District
Offices |
| DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
CHAIRMAN |
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30833
Northwestern Highway |
VA, HUD
AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES |
| FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT, FINANCING |
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Suite
100 |
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Farmington
Hills, MI. |
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248-851-1366 |
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JEFFREY M ONIZUK
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ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
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JULY 30,
2002
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Mr.
Hill
Illinois
Dear
Mr. Hill:
Thank you tier your most recent letter regarding immigration. I appreciate you sharing
your personal experience with me.
I understand your concern that companies are hiring immigrants to work in the United
States and share your concern about the loss of jobs for Americans. For over two hundred years, men and women from all over the world have come to the United States to pursue the American Dream.
The United States remains the guiding light, the beacon of hope, freedom, and liberty for
the world. However, the American Dream must be accomplished by hard work and sacrifice.
I agree foreign workers should not and must not take jobs from qualified Americans. In
addition, education of students and retraining of the current workforce must remain a priority. At the same time, in order to supply businesses with the labor they need to meet future demand, in some instances, admission of highly skilled workers is required if the U.S. is to remain globally competitive.
However, this cannot come at the expense of American workers. Employers must retain the freedom to hire the best people for their available jobs. Many of the mathematics, computer science, and engineering graduates of U S colleges and universities are foreign students and the U.S. should be able to benefit from this talent.
President George
W. Bush and the House of Representatives has supported the reauthorization and improvement of the Trade Adjustment Assistance
(TAA) program. As a result, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3008, introduced by Representative Nancy Johnson
(R-CT) on December 6, 2001, by a 420-3 margin. I supported this legislation which reauthorizes the TAA Program that provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or are adversely affected. The TAA program offers a variety of benefits and reemployment services to assist unemployed
workers prepare for and obtain suitable
employment. Workers may be eligible for training, job search and relocation
allowances, income support and other reemployment services. It is my hope the U S Senate will expeditiously act on this legislation.
Once again, thank you for your letter In the future, please do not hesitate to contact me on this or any other federal matter.
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Sincerely,
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Joe
Knollenberg |
| Member of Congress |
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