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Gutierrez Says Immigrants Needed to Fill U.S. Jobs (Update1)
July 12 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said the U.S. needs immigrants to meet the employment needs of a growing economy and urged Congress to approve immigration legislation that includes a temporary-worker program.

Gutierrez said there were 4.1 million U.S. job openings in May, many in the hospitality industry, that immigrants are needed to fill because Americans can't or won't do that work.

``We have jobs today that either American citizens aren't willing to do or aren't able to do,'' Gutierrez, an immigrant from Cuba, told the Senate Judiciary Committee. ``Immigrants aren't crossing our borders to look for a handout. They're seeking jobs that are available.''

The Senate and House of Representatives are holding unusual hearings this month to discuss the differences in immigration legislation already approved by each chamber. The Senate approach, supported by President George W. Bush, would create a guest-worker program and a path to legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants.

The House legislation focuses on border security and enforcement of immigration laws without including any new legalization of temporary-worker programs.

Gutierrez told senators today that a guest-worker program would be an integral component of securing the border because providing a legal pathway for immigrants looking for work would keep them from attempting to enter the U.S. illegally.

``The biggest thing we can do for our border is have a temporary-worker permit for the interior of our country,'' he said.

Specter

The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Pennsylvania Republican Arlen Specter, last week held the first in a series of hearings intended to promote the Senate's version of immigration legislation.

Specter said the Senate hearings are being held in response to House hearings that were called to criticize the Senate approach. House Republican leaders said they would hold meetings this month and next around the country to get input on the issue rather than follow the usual procedure of appointing negotiators to reconcile the two competing pieces of legislation.

``It would be our preference to be conferring with the House of Representatives on the immigration matter,'' Specter said. ``It is my hope that after we complete those hearings in September, we will move ahead to a conference and produce legislation.''

Additional House Hearings

House Majority Leader John Boehner today said that four House panels will hold immigration hearings this month, and he praised last week's sessions as helpful to giving House lawmakers a stronger hand in future negotiations with the Senate.

``The hearings have been an absolute success, and they've put us in a stronger position to craft a responsible bill that secures our borders and strictly enforces our immigration laws,'' Boehner said.

The next hearings will examine a House provision that would require a 700-mile fence along the U.S-Mexico border, consider security risks at the border with Canada and probe the impact of immigrant labor on U.S. workers' wages and the track record of existing guest workers programs.

Boehner said senators are showing a willingness to compromise on the immigration proposals. Specter and Senator Ted Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, have indicated interest in a compromise that would delay the Senate's guest-worker program until House demands for improved border security are met.

``There's a lot of ideas out there,'' Boehner said. ``I'm not going to count any in, or count any out.''



To contact the reporter on this story:
Nicholas Johnston in Washington at
njohnston3@bloomberg.net