ATLANTA, GA – FWD.us Georgia State Director Sam Aguilar issued the following statement today on H.R. 11, which creates a House Study Committee on Innovative Ways to Maximize Global Talent in Georgia to address the barriers faced by immigrants and refugees in the State of Georgia:

“We applaud the important steps taken by leaders in the State House today to maximize economic contributions and workforce participation of immigrants and refugees in Georgia. For generations, immigrants from all walks of life have contributed to the strength and innovation of Georgia’s economy, and to our communities. Today, immigrants make up a tenth of Georgia’s population and play an outsized role in supporting essential industries such as agriculture and healthcare. They are critical to our local and national response to the coronavirus pandemic. Only through policies that encourage a more welcoming and inclusive Georgia will we build a stronger state across the board and drive economic success.

“We are thankful to the co-sponsors of this resolution — Representative Wes Cantrell (R-Woodstock), Representative Gerald Greene (R-Cuthbert), Representative Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton), and Representative Chuck Efstration (R-Dacula) — for working to maximize opportunities for immigrants so Georgia can rebuild and thrive as the number one state in which to do business. We look forward to working with members of this study committee to shine a greater light on the contributions and needs of Georgia’s immigrant and refugee communities.”