United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Commends Members of the Florida State Legislature on Defeat of Anti-Immigration Bills
WASHINGTON, May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC), which represents the interests of nearly 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses and over 200 local Hispanic chambers of commerce nationwide, applauds the members of the Florida State Legislature who prevented SB 2040, an anti-immigration piece of legislation, from being enacted into law last week. The Florida Senate passed a 23-26 vote on a milder form of SB 2040 on Thursday, May 5, 2011. However, the Florida Senate and House of Representatives were unable to come to an agreement on a final bill, resulting in the death of both SB 2040 and HB 7089 before the end of the legislative session on Friday, May 6, 2011.
"If SB 2040 had passed, it stood to be economically devastating to Florida's largest economic sectors – hospitality, tourism and agri-business," says Javier Palomarez, President and CEO of the USHCC. "As an association that stands for commerce, the USHCC takes a clinical and objective look at the issues that impact our business community. Florida's economy is largely driven by tourism and conventions and could have potentially suffered the same fate as Arizona, which passed its own anti-immigration legislation last year, in the form of SB 1070, lost hundreds of millions of dollars in the convention and tourism industry alone following the passage of that bill."
The USHCC strongly opposes immigration legislation efforts brought forward by individual states across the country which will lead to an uneven and inconsistent regulatory framework governing the nation's commercial activities. Instead, the USHCC advocates for a federal solution to the immigration issue that is truly national in scope and addresses not only Hispanic business enterprises, but all business.
"The USHCC will continue to be mindful and express opposition to these types of laws in state legislation across the country," adds Palomarez.
About the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC)
Founded in 1979, the USHCC actively promotes the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs and represents the interests of nearly 3 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States that generate nearly $400 billion annually. It also serves as the umbrella organization for more than 200 local Hispanic chambers in the United States and Puerto Rico. To learn more, visit www.ushcc.com.
SOURCE United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
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