National Heavy & Highway Alliance 50th Anniversary Conference

Remarks by Thomas J. Donohue
President & CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Las Vegas, NV
June 10, 2005

Thank you, Terry O'Sullivan, and good morning everyone.

Let me start by congratulating you on 50 years of outstanding success. For half a century, the members of the National Heavy & Highway Alliance have helped build this country, literally from the ground up.

In fact, Las Vegas would not have been possible without the hard labor of the trades represented here today.

In this city, a new home is constructed every 20 minutes. Five thousand people move here every month. You and your efforts help make that possible.

A decade ago, if the head of the U.S. Chamber had given a speech to a room full of labor union officials, it would have been likened to the sheep going into the lion's den.

But that's not the case anymore. While management and labor will always have their differences - and old Irish guys like Terry and myself will fight like cats and dogs when we disagree — we've learned to seek out and find common ground.

In fact, your organization exemplifies effective cooperation between business and unions. It underscores what can be achieved when parties set aside their differences in order to work on a common goal.

I want to spend a couple of minutes talking about some areas where we can work together in Washington, and then I'd be glad to take your questions.

One area in which we have cooperated extensively is on transportation.

Investing in our transportation system is a win-win for business and labor, and essential to America's economy and international competitiveness.

Both the Laborers International and Operating Engineers Unions serve on the management committee of the Americans for Transportation Mobility, a coalition of businesses, trade associations, unions, and others.

Terry O'Sullivan serves as the coalition's vice chairman. I also want to point out the leadership of Pete Ruane of ARTBA and Steve Sandherr of AGC, who are here today. Their leadership has helped move the ball forward in a significant way.

When labor joined the coalition, all the partners did a very smart thing — we took the most contentious issue off the table, the Davis-Bacon Act. That allowed us to move past a serious sticking point and focus on the overall goal of adequate infrastructure investment and jobs.

ATM is at the forefront of efforts to educate the American public, opinion leaders, and lawmakers about the value of transportation to the nation's economy and quality of life.

What are the messages we're getting across? We're telling Congress to get the job done when it comes to passing a highway bill.

Since TEA-21 expired in 2003, Congress has punted the ball, passing seven extensions while they try to figure out how much to spend.

When you consider the fact that every $1 billion invested in transportation creates 47,500 jobs - and you consider what bad shape our system is in - the obvious answer to that question is the more the better.

That's why we're supporting the largest possible dollar amount.

We need to light a fire under Congress. They need to hear from us that highways are crucial to the U.S. economy.

They need to know jobs - union jobs - are on the line. And they need to know America must have a well maintained transportation system if it is expected to compete and win in a global economy.

We're going to keep pressing until we get a bill we like and the nation deserves, and we appreciate your support.

Another area where we share common goals is on energy. In fact, labor is involved in another coalition with the Chamber, the Alliance for Energy and Economic Growth.

That coalition wants what this nation hasn't had in over 30 years — an energy strategy.

Think about these statistics: Since 1979, America's energy production has grown 7%, while energy use has increased 23%. Since 2000, the gap between supply and demand has caused natural gas prices to soar 140% and oil prices to rise 107%.

Not a single new oil refinery has been built in the Unites States since 1976. As a result, America's dependence on foreign oil is growing. Net petroleum imports represented 56% of U.S. demand in 2003 and are expected to account for 68% in 2025.

For purposes of economic growth and national security, it is absolutely essential that we enact a comprehensive energy strategy that ensures affordable and reliable supplies.

Now I think we all agree on that. We also agree such a strategy would create thousands of good jobs, for unions and the private sector.

Unfortunately, Congress can't seem to work out a deal. They've taken several stabs at it, but can't get a final bill across the finish line.

They have a good bill in front of them now and they need to pass it - the sooner, the better. And it needs to include environmentally sensitive energy exploration in ANWR.

One other area I'll mention is immigration.

Now, there probably isn't a more divisive issue in the country right now, and some of those divisions are between business and labor.

But there are a few things we can — and should - agree on.

First, we need to stop turning a blind eye to the 8-10 million undocumented workers who live and work in this country. They need to be brought out of the shadows.

We need some type of targeted earned adjustment program for undocumented workers who are already here working, paying taxes, and contributing to our economy.

Some like to use the word "amnesty." We don't support amnesty.

We support legislation that would provide a step-by-step process in which an undocumented worker could qualify for permanent legal status by:

Paying a civil penalty for entering the United States illegally; demonstrating a substantial length of time in the workforce; and, completing a program that requires continuous work, a clean criminal record, and progress in English proficiency.

I know that some people are uncomfortable with providing these workers with legal status. But the alternative solutions are indefensible.

We are not going to adopt a massive deportation program. That would be neither feasible nor desirable.

Our economy would grind to a halt if we tried to round up and deport millions of undocumented workers.

Maintaining the status quo is equally wrong. A shadow society of undocumented workers and a booming fraudulent documents industry protect criminals and terrorists and make it easier to exploit immigrant workers.

Creating a pathway to earned legal status in this country would rightfully recognize those upon whom our economy depends and would enable law enforcement officials to focus their resources on criminals and threats to our security rather than on cooks, janitors, and caretakers.

And second, we can all agree that security is paramount. A stronger enforcement of our immigration and border security laws are a necessary part of any package.

We support the screening of foreign workers and vigilant border patrolling by federal officials. At the same time, we are certain that immigration reform would greatly alleviate the strain on border security resources because fewer immigrants would feel the need to enter our country illegally.

Our organizations may have different views on the best way to achieve immigration reform, but we should stand united in our call to our elected leaders to reject the status quo and fix the system as soon as possible.

There may not be broad agreement on how to fix our nation's broken immigration system, but there is a common commitment to get it done. So let's roll up our sleeves and get to work - together.

I appreciate the opportunity to address you today and want to let you know the Chamber is committed to working with you to ensure a stronger America.

I hope we can do this again soon. I've got a minute for a question or two …