Problem Solvers Caucus Endorses Bipartisan Dignity Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus announced its endorsement of the DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023. This immigration reform package will halt the flow of illegal immigration, develop a more efficient asylum system, provide legal status for qualified undocumented individuals, and bolster the American economy. 

The Dignity Act will:

• Enhance U.S. border security with additional border infrastructure and equipment, increased Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) personnel and training, investments in border communities, and strategic planning and threat analysis developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• Provide a pathway to citizenship for qualifying undocumented individuals, including Dreamers, by offering temporary legal status for a seven-year period to undocumented immigrants who pass a criminal background check and pay a fine. 
• Expedite asylum processing to decide cases within 60 days by enhancing screening procedures along the U.S.-Mexico border to include criminal background checks and identity verification, ending “catch-and-release” practices. 
• Ensure a globally competitive American workforce by creating pathways for skilled workers, supporting farmers and ranchers with an improved H2A workforce, increasing high-skilled employment-based worker visa opportunities, and reducing visa backlogs.
• Modernize and expand ports of entry to expand legal commerce. 

The provisions outlined in the legislation will be fully funded by fees and restitution payments with zero cost to the American taxpayer.

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Representatives Maria Salazar (FL-27), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Jenniffer González-Colón (PR-AL), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05), Kathy Manning (NC-06), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) and has 30 additional cosponsors, 13 of whom are Members of the Problem Solvers Caucus. The bill was brought forward for Caucus endorsement by Representatives Salazar and Scholten. 

“The United States desperately needs an immigration solution, and the Dignity Act is the best and most viable bill to secure our border and solve our nation’s immigration problems,” said Congresswoman María Salazar (FL-27). “I am proud that the bipartisan Dignity Act received the endorsement of the Problem Solvers Caucus – a critical group of lawmakers in Congress who are willing to advance solutions that prioritize national security, practical reforms, and economic growth.”

"As an attorney who has worked on all aspects of the immigration problem, including employment, helping asylum seekers, and enforcement at the DOJ, I have seen firsthand how our system is failing, and it is past time we take charge to fix what's broken,” said Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03). “The bipartisan Dignity Act aims to repair our immigration system and restore humanity and justice to our process. I'm grateful to my colleagues in the Problem Solvers Caucus for recognizing the power rehabilitating our immigration system will have on our nation."

“For far too long, our immigration system has been a glaring failure, and Americans are suffering as a result,” said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01). “The Dignity Act stands as a historic, bipartisan solution that decisively ends illegal immigration, secures our borders, and drives economic prosperity in the United States. I am proud the Problem Solvers Caucus has endorsed this critical bill and is garnering support from both sides of the aisle.”

“For years, I've been working to pass commonsense immigration reform that protects our borders and lives up to our values as a nation. I'm proud the Problem Solvers Caucus came together to endorse the bipartisan Dignity Act which will support American workers, stop cartels from exploiting migrant families, and finally end the uncertainty they face by establishing a clear path for success while also securing our border,” said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05). 

“The Dignity Act is one of the strongest bipartisan solutions we have to finally fix our broken immigration system,” said Problem Solvers Caucus Vice-Chair Congresswoman Susie Lee. “It invests billions for border security and law enforcement, supports asylum seekers and Dreamers, and strengthens our economy by revitalizing the American workforce. Republicans and Democrats came together on this much-needed legislation and I urge House Leadership to let us vote on it.” 

“We are a proud nation of immigrants, yet our current immigration system is outdated and broken. Unfortunately, we also have humanitarian and national security crises occurring at our southern border due to failed border security policies. These problems put the lives of both migrants and American citizens at risk. It’s past time for Congress to act,” said Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-05). “The bipartisan Dignity Act is a comprehensive solution that would bolster border security and then take a compassionate approach to immigration reform – helping families stay together, supporting immigrants’ contributions to our workforce, and growing our economy by creating new opportunities in rapidly expanding industries. I was proud to join Congresswoman Salazar in helping lead this historic legislation, and I’m glad my bipartisan colleagues on the Problem Solvers Caucus have endorsed this much-needed bill.”

“As the husband of a naturalized American citizen, I’ve seen firsthand just how broken our immigration system is,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17). “I have said all along that parties have failed to fix this problem for decades and it is going to take both parties working together to solve it. That’s why I was proud to join Republicans and Democrats in introducing the Dignity Act — the first serious, bipartisan immigration reform proposal in over a decade. The Dignity Act will secure our porous border, create a process for those already here to pay restitution and integrate into American society, and fix our legal immigration system so that people who want to come here can do so and can contribute to our society, our economy, and our culture as immigrants have and always will. I’m glad to see this legislation endorsed by the Problem Solvers Caucus — a testament to its broad support as well as its ability to finally solve a problem that has evaded leaders for decades.”

“Republicans and Democrats alike can agree — Congress must take action to address ongoing challenges at our southern border,” said Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (OH-13). “I’ve visited the border in El Paso and I’m cosponsoring the bipartisan Dignity Act because securing our border and ensuring a humane and orderly immigration process must be a top priority for Congress. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put partisanship aside and support this legislation to address border security.”  

“I had the opportunity to visit our southern border for the second time earlier this year. Like so many Americans, I’m a combination of angry, frustrated, and heartbroken by what continues to happen there under both Republican and Democratic administrations,” said Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06). “The bipartisan Dignity Act provides a compromise with real solutions to this complex issue by delivering new resources for border security while also implementing immigration reforms that have received bipartisan support for decades.”  

“The Dignity Act is proof that when we put politics aside and work across the aisle, we can create solutions that benefit all Americans,” said Congressman John Duarte (CA-13). “I’m honored to have worked with Representatives Salazar, Scholten, and my Democrat and Republican friends in the Problem Solvers Caucus to make this a reality. This bill strikes the right balance by fixing our broken immigration system, securing our borders, and protecting American workers and families.”

“It’s past time we work together to take comprehensive action that secures our southern border, cracks down on the trafficking of deadly drugs like fentanyl, and reforms our immigration system that has been broken for decades,” said Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01). “I’m proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Dignity Act which would help address security and infrastructure challenges at our southern border, hire additional border patrol personnel, establish new pathways for asylum seekers, and create a path to citizenship. As this bill continues to gain bipartisan support, we must get this done for the American people.”

The full text of the bill can be found here. 

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The Problem Solvers Caucus, which is Co-Chaired by Congressmen Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), has sixty-two Members evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.