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The President:
In addition to talking
about the Red Sox --
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[laughter]
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-- we are here to talk
about immigration reform.
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We've got an outstanding
group of leaders here,
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a wide cross-section
of industry;
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we've got manufacturers,
service sector, food, high-tech.
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And they represent just a small
cross-section of the businesses
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all across the country who are
deeply committed to making sure
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that we get comprehensive
immigration reform done,
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and done quickly.
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Just last week, we had 600
business and faith leaders who
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came to emphasize that this is
something that is not only the
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right thing to do, but it's
also critical to our economy.
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We know that the Senate
bipartisan bill that already
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passed would grow the economy by
$1.4 trillion above and beyond
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the growth that's
already taking place.
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We know it will reduce our
deficit by $850 billion.
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This is not --
these aren't my estimates.
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These are independent estimates
that had been made about
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the salutary effect that
comprehensive immigration reform
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will have on our economy.
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And these businesses
understand that.
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They understand that if we are
serious about border security,
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if we do a better job
of streamlining the legal
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immigration system,
if we are holding employers
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who aren't doing the
right thing accountable,
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and we provide
a pathway to citizenship
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for those who have paid a fine,
learned English,
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are getting to
the back of the line,
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taking their responsibilities --
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that all together,
these businesses
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are going to
have more customers,
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we're going to see people who
are currently working here,
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out of the shadows, paying taxes
and getting right with the law.
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We have the opportunity when
young people come to this
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country to study on our dime,
making sure that if they're able
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and willing, they can stay here,
start businesses of their own,
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contribute to our
economy, help our exports.
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So this is something that has
strong bipartisan support.
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Keep in mind that my
predecessor, George W. Bush,
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was a strong
supporter of this.
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We have a fascinating
cross-section of people --
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some unlikely bedfellows,
some very liberal folks,
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some very conservative folks --
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who all believe that now
is the time to get this done.
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And as we saw in the Senate,
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there is the strong potential
for bipartisan support.
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So what I'm going to be talking
to the business community about
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is how we can continue
to amplify this issue
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in the coming weeks.
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There's no reason why
we can't get this done
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before the end of the year.
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And I continue to be hopeful
that with the leadership
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of many who are around
this table who represent
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hundreds of
thousands of employees
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and billions
of dollars of assets,
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who are important in their
communities all across
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the country, them joining up
with law enforcement, clergy,
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citizens, to make the case that
ultimately folks up on Capitol
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Hill will do the right thing.
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And although right now there's
been some resistance
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from House Republicans,
what's been encouraging is,
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is that there are a number of
House Republicans who have said,
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we think this is the right
thing to do, as well.
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And it's my estimation that
we actually have votes to get
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comprehensive immigration reform
done in the House right now.
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The politics are challenging
for the Speaker and others,
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and we want to make it as
easy for him as possible.
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This is not an issue where we're
looking for a political win.
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This is one where we're looking
for a substantive win
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for the U.S. economy
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and the American people
and the businesses
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that are represented here.
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I'm very grateful to all
of you who have joined us.
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But we're going to be pushing
to make sure that we send out
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that clarion call up
towards Capitol Hill,
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see if we can get this done
before the end of the year.
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Thank you very much, everybody.
