Press Release: Leaders from the Partnership for a New American Economy to Testify During Senate Immigration Hearing

With the Senate Committee on the Judiciary scheduled to hold a hearing on “The Economic Imperative for Enacting Immigration Reform” on Tuesday, July 26, 2011, members of the Partnership for a New American Economy will be among the select business executives and elected leaders testifying on the need for sensible immigration reform to improve the American economy.

“Tuesday’s hearing on the economics of immigration is another chance to demonstrate what we’ve been saying all along — a smarter immigration strategy is vital to the American economy and creating American jobs,” said New York City Mayor and Partnership Co-Chair Michael R. Bloomberg. “We hope that the Senate will take advantage of this hearing to focus the immigration debate on areas of agreement and move this issue forward in a bipartisan manner.”

WHAT: Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security hearing entitled, “The Economic Imperative for Enacting Immigration Reform”

WHO: Subcommittee hearing panelists and members of the Partnership for a New American Economy:

• Robert Greifeld, CEO and President of NASDAQ

Greifeld leads the world’s largest exchange company, assuming leadership in 2003. He has not only been a strong advocate of modernizing exchanges and financial regulation to keep America’s capital markets competitive, but also for immigration policies that help American businesses hire, recruit, and retain the most talented employees. Greifeld is a native of New York City.

• Brad Smith, General Counsel and Senior Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs of Microsoft Corporation

Smith serves as the General Counsel for Microsoft, the world’s top manufacturer of software for personal and business computing. Since 2002, Smith has presided over many negotiations leading to competition and intellectual property agreements with foreign countries. Microsoft and CEO Steve Ballmer have been a vocal proponent immigration, arguing that smart immigration policies have the power to build America’s innovation workforce of the future.

• David R. Roefaro, Mayor of Utica, New York

Roefaro was elected in 2007 as the mayor of Utica, a city in central New York. He has owned and operated his family business funeral home for two decades, and formerly served on the City Council. At its founding, Utica was largely comprised of Italian immigrants. But today, the city draws a large number of immigrants from Bosnia, Belarus and Vietnam, who have helped the city’s businesses grow and expand. Roefaro touts his city school district as one that speaks 42 different languages. Roefaro is a lifelong resident of Utica.

• Larry Gilbert, Mayor of Lewiston, Maine

Gilbert took office in 2007 as mayor of Maine’s second-largest city, Lewiston. As the former Lewiston Police Chief he brought Community Oriented Policing to Maine in 1990 and initiated a number of innovative law enforcement programs. He also served as the United States Marshal for the District of Maine during President Bill Clinton’s Administration. He believes that immigrants make communities more vibrant and that they strengthen their economies. Gilbert is also a native of Lewiston.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226