ICYMI: Problem Solvers Caucus Endorses the Dignity Act

December 17, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the 118^th Congress draws to a close, Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) continues to build support for the Dignity Act (H.R. 3599), the only major bipartisan immigration bill in Congress. With conversations about Congress tackling immigration next year, many recognize the Dignity Act as the most consequential piece of immigration legislation that not only secures our southern border but addresses our major immigration challenges beyond the border.

In October 2024, the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus in the House of Representatives announced its official endorsement of the Dignity Act (H.R. 3599). The Problem Solvers Caucus is a group of more than 60 Members of Congress who are committed to advancing common-sense solutions to key issues facing the United States. Problem Solvers Caucus endorsements are often a critical threshold to pass before advancing major bipartisan legislation. The bill was brought forward for Caucus endorsement by Representatives Salazar and Hillary Scholten (D-MI), an original co-lead of the bill. It is the first time the caucus has endorsed a major immigration policy.

“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 Rep. María Elvira Salazar. “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.”

“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, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick. “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.”

The bipartisan Dignity Act fully secures our border and fixes America’s immigration system once and for all. By sealing the border, pioneering the Dignity and Redemption programs for undocumented immigrants, investing in American workers, re-thinking high-skilled legal immigration, and overhauling the abused asylum system with new Humanitarian Centers at our ports of entry, the Dignity Act is Congress’ only serious bill to resolve the migrant crisis and build mutual consensus around immigration.

“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, Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

“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 Rep. Hillary Scholten. “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.”

Since introduction, the Dignity Act has gained significant support from both parties in Congress and secured major endorsements from prominent national and local advocacy groups. Leading experts and policy groups commend the legislation for addressing the many inefficiencies and backlogs afflicting the current immigration regime and creating the conditions necessary to grow our economy by trillions of dollars, one of the largest expansions of the economy in American history. The innovative legislation also eliminates labor shortages in the healthcare industry, and helps save Social Security and Medicare from insolvency. Critically, the Dignity Act implements the funding for personnel, infrastructure, and equipment required to secure our borders and keep American citizens safe, at no expense to the taxpayer.

The Dignity Act has been covered extensively in the press. Read some of more than 100 articles written about the bill here, and learn more about the bill on Congresswoman Salazar’s website here. A non-exhaustive list of every endorsement the Dignity Act has received from federal legislators and organizations across the United States can be found below and their statements of support can be found here. Statements come from prominent stakeholders, including from immigration groups, businesses, the agricultural sector, the faith community, educators, economists, national security experts, community leaders, Ambassadors, and United States Senators.

A detailed summary of the Dignity Act can also be found below.

Sponsors and Cosponsors (39): *María Elvira Salazar (FL), *Veronica Escobar (TX), *Jenniffer González Colon (PR), *Hillary Scholten (MI), *Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR), *Kathy Manning (NC), *Michael Lawler (NY), *Adriano Espaillat (NY), John Duarte (CA), Susan Wild (PA), Mario Díaz-Balart (FL), Susie Lee (NV), David Valadao (CA), Darren Soto (FL), Dan Newhouse (WA), Colin Allred (TX), Abigail Spanberger (VA), Jake Auchincloss (MA), Mike Levin (CA), Marilyn Strickland (WA), Matt Cartwright (PA), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Dean Phillips (MI), Chris Pappas (NH), Elissa Slotkin (MI), Pat Ryan (NY), Joe Courtney (CT), Lori Trahan (MA), Chrissy Houlahan (PA), Christopher DeLuzio (PA), Eric Sorensen (IL), Nikki Budzinski (IL), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL), Emilia Sykes (OH), Val Hoyle (OR), Jared Moskowitz (FL), Greg Landsman (OH), Mary Peltola (AK), and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL).

The following organizations have weighed in with endorsements, statements of support, and/or positive comments about the Dignity Act:

Organizations (50+): Agriculture Workforce Coalition, Alliance for a New Immigration Consensus (ANIC), American Action Forum, American Business Immigration Coalition, American Families United, American Immigration Lawyers Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, American Senior Housing Association, Americans for Prosperity, BDV Solutions, Behring Co., Bipartisan Policy Center, Brick Industry Association, Business Roundtable, Catholic Charities USA, Casa de Venezuela, Chris Coons, U.S. Senator (D-DE), Cleaning Coalition of America, Essential Worker Immigration Coalition, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, Florida Tomato Exchange, FWD.us, Hispanic Leadership Fund, Ideaspace, Immigration Hub, Improve the Dream, Invest in the USA (IIUSA), Ken Salazar, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, LIBRE Initiative, Mason Contractors Association of America, National Association of Counties, National Association of Evangelicals, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, National Association of Landscape Professionals, National Immigration Forum, National Latino Evangelical Coalition, National Retail Federation (NRF), Niskanen Center, Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA), Power & Communication Contractors Association, Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, TechNet, TESOL International Association, Texas Border Coalition, Texas Impact, The Legal Immigration and Border Enforcement Reform this Year (LIBERTY) Campaign, UnidosUS, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), U.S. Hispanic Business Council, U.S. Travel Association, and World Relief.

KEY PROVISIONS OF THE DIGNITY ACT

Securing the Border and Restoring Law and Order

Provides $25 billion to fully secure the border.
Mandates 100% nationwide E-verify to ensure all American businesses are hiring legal workers.
Achieves operational control and advantage of the Southern Border by employing a comprehensive Southern Border Strategy.
Constructs enhanced physical barriers and deploys the most up-to-date technology at the border.
Hires thousands of new Border Patrol agents, CBP officers, and border intelligence units.
Implements new policies to stop criminals crossing the border illegally, including new authorities to track cartel spotters, and raises penalties on human traffickers and child sex traffickers.
Authorizes DHS to officially designate an organization as a criminal street gang, making any alien involved in a criminal gang inadmissible and deportable.
Designates Mexican cartels as Special Transnational Criminal Organizations.
Directs DHS to complete and implement biometric exit at all air, land, and sea ports-of-entry for international travelers.
Provides DHS the authority to use DNA testing to verify family relationships.
Enhances port-of-entry security by expanding surveillance and intrusion detection systems.
Improves legal commerce and trade by expanding inspection lanes and investing in X-ray technology to safely inspect commercial vehicles.

Fixing our Asylum System

Expedites processing and ends catch-and-release policies.
Establishes at least five Humanitarian Campuses (HC) that will receive individuals and families arriving at the southern border for immediate processing.
Asylum-seekers will remain at an HC until their case is decided.
They will have freedom of movement within the HC, access to state-of-the-art facilities, medical personal, legal counsel, and non-governmental organizations.
Decides asylum cases within 60 days. Asylum-seekers will undergo an initial credible fear interview within 15 days of their arrival and further screening by trained asylum officers for final determination within an additional 45 days.
*Complex cases may be referred to case management to await a hearing before an Immigration Judge.
Creates five additional immigration centers in Latin America to stop migrant caravans and prevent individuals from making the dangerous land journey to the United States.
The centers will offer asylum pre-screening, child reunification services, and employment counsel to determine eligibility for work visas in the United States.
Implements a security and development strategy to address instability in Central America. This will help bring stability and economic development to Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Increases U.S. authorities to target transnational criminals, smugglers, human traffickers, drug traffickers, and gangs like MS-13.
Cracks down on asylum fraud by increasing penalties for those that make false statements or provide false documentation.
Establishes a new two-strike policy for anyone caught crossing at a non-port-of-entry, to ensure legitimate asylum seekers are processed appropriately while bad actors are apprehended.

Giving Dignity and Redemption to Undocumented Immigrants

Creates immediate protected status and streamlined path for Dreamers and TPS recipients, as outlined in the Dream and Promise Act.
Establishes the Dignity Program, a practical solution for undocumented immigrants who have been in the U.S. for more than five years.
Recipients will be offered a chance to work, pay restitution, get right with the law, and earn legal status.
Applicants must comply with all federal and state laws, pass a criminal background check, and pay outstanding taxes or debts.
Dignity participants will also pay $5,000 in restitution during the seven years of the program, check in with DHS every two years, and remain in good public standing.
Individuals in the Dignity Program will not have access to federal means-tested benefits or entitlements.
Establishes two options after successful completion of the Dignity Program – Dignity Status or the Redemption Program:
Dignity Status: Dignity recipients who choose this option will immediately receive a five-year Dignity Status, which provides full work authorization, the ability to live in the U.S., and travel authorization outside the U.S. They will also remain ineligible for citizenship, means-tested benefits, and entitlements. Dignity Status can be renewed an indefinite number of times as long as the individual remains in good standing with the law.
Redemption Program: The Redemption Program (+5 years) requires completion of the seven-year Dignity Program. It offers Dignity recipients a chance to redeem themselves and earn permanent legal status. Redemption Program participants must learn English and U.S. civics and contribute to their local community either through community service or an additional $5,000 in restitution payments. Successful completion of the Redemption Program provides legal permanent resident status and eligibility for existing pathways to citizenship. Participating individuals would go to the back of the line.

Dignity for American Workers

Creates a new American Worker Fund, using restitution payments from the Dignity and Redemption Programs. This fund will provide workforce training, upskilling, and education for unemployed American workers.
For every participant in the Dignity Program, their restitution payments will be able to train or retrain at least one American worker.
The American Worker Fund provides grants for workforce education initiatives, apprenticeship programs, higher education, and Career and Technical Education to give opportunities for Americans to enter new careers.
*This will ensure Americans can secure employment in in-demand careers.

American Agricultural Dominance

Streamlines the H-2A application process by allowing employers to file with relevant agencies in a single platform, reducing regulatory burden for farmers and businesses.
Creates a year-round Agricultural workforce, removing “seasonal” requirements on the H-2A program and expanding it to year-round labor.
Combats price hikes so families can access affordable groceries and a large variety of U.S.-based produce.
Repeals the complicated and unpredictable Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) formula to calculate wages for farmers set by the Department of Labor. It replaces it with either 125% of the federal minimum wage or the applicable state/local minimum wage.
Allows Staggered Entry for advanced planning so employers can have workers start at different dates of the year to meet their specific needs.
Opens the H2A program to apple cider pressing on farms, aquaculture, the equine industry, forestry activities, conservation, forest management, and wild fish and shellfish processors.
Includes special procedures regulations for shepherding and goat herding, shearing, bee keeping, and custom combining.
Creates a Certified Agricultural Workers (CAW) program, as established in the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, with renewable five-and-a-half year visas available only to undocumented workers that have been working in agriculture for several years previously.
Foreign workers could apply for lawful permanent residence (LPR) after successfully maintaining either eight years of CAW status or four years of CAW status plus ten years of previous agricultural work experience in addition to making restitution payments and paying owed back taxes.
Includes the Returning Worker Exception Act, which Reforms the H-2B program by exempting returning workers from the visa caps of the three previous fiscal years. It also improves the H-2B application process, requiring the DOL to maintain a publicly accessible online job registry, and strengthening program integrity measures and anti-fraud provisions to protect American workers and guest workers.

Unleashing American Prosperity and Competitiveness

Modernizes our legal immigration system and fixes backlogs.
Cuts the legal immigration backlog at ten years, ensuring anyone that has been waiting for a legal visa (either family-based or employment-based) for ten years or more (calculated by priority date) will be provided with that visa.
Raises the per-country cap set in the Immigration Act of 1990 from 7% to 15%.
Allows STEM PhD graduates from American universities, including medical students, to be eligible for an O visa. This allows “Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement” to stay and work in the U.S. if they choose to.
Increases high-skilled employment visas opportunities by only counting the principal applicant and excluding derivatives (children and spouses) from counting towards the annual Employment-Based visa caps. It does not raise the caps.
Includes the H-4 Work Authorization Act, allowing spouses of H-1B immigrants to automatically be granted work authorization upon receiving their H-4 visa.
Includes the American Families United Act, which authorizes discretion if an undocumented child or spouse of a U.S. citizen is denied a visa or has received a deportation order, affording families relief on a case-by-case basis.
Includes the Temporary Family Visitation Act, which creates a new, 90-day visitor visa that can be used by foreigners to travel to the United States for business, pleasure, or family purposes.
Ensures that children legally present in the United States do not age out of receiving certain visas due to USCIS processing delays.
Requires students working in the United States as part of the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program to pay FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes.
Modernizes student visas by changing the F visa to be “dual intent.”
Creates an Immigration Agency Coordinator position to oversee and streamline immigration functions at USCIS, the State Department, and the Department of Labor.
Surges resources to USCIS operations, the Bureau of Consular Affairs and Visa Service at the State Department, and the Office of Foreign Labor Certification at DOL to reduce delays and improve visa processing.

No taxpayer funds will be used to pay for the Dignity Act.

The border infrastructure, improved ports of entry infrastructure, new humanitarian campuses, increased personnel, and all other associated costs in this bill are paid for by an “Immigration Infrastructure Levy.”
A 1.5% levy will be deducted from the paychecks of individuals given work authorization under the Dignity Program. These levies will be deposited into the Immigration Infrastructure Fund to be used to carry out the provisions of this act.
The American Worker Fund, used to provide workforce development for American workers, will be funded by restitution payments from the Dignity and Redemption Programs.

For a link to the full press conference, click here.

For a one-pager on the Dignity Act, click here.

For a more detailed summary of the Dignity Act, click here.

For a section-by-section breakdown of the Dignity Act, click here.

For the full text of the bill, click here.

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