“I congratulate the Biden-Harris Administration on their inauguration and look forward to working with the Administration and Congress to fix our nation’s broken immigration system. It’s past time for meaningful immigration reform that protects hardworking immigrants and establishes a pathway for undocumented Georgians to earn permanent legal status in the country they love. I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration for making this a day one priority with their proposed U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021. This vital legislation would provide a desperately-needed pathway to citizenship for millions of people who have been contributing to our communities for decades, while protecting legal immigration avenues and expanding opportunity for those seeking refuge. Georgians’ voices were heard loud and clear this election — immigration matters. I look forward to working with Georgia’s congressional delegation to turn this call into action.

“Georgia is home to over one million immigrant residents who pay $9.8 billion in annual taxes, more than half a million of whom are working in essential industries crucial to our COVID-19 recovery. With three in four Americans on both sides of the aisle in support of a pathway to permanent legal status for all undocumented immigrants, Georgians agree the time for reform is now.

“Millions of hardworking immigrants have contributed tirelessly to our country, and continue to sacrifice as frontline essential workers in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Our nation’s response and economic recovery is not possible without their critical contributions. As a nation, we have an enormous opportunity to build a humane, commonsense approach to immigration that keeps families safe and together, and makes our communities safer and more prosperous. I urge Congress to urgently pass the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 to create a pathway to citizenship that will benefit Georgia’s communities and economy.”