LETTER: Far from reckless, spending bill helps many Americans in need

To Ozaukee Press:

In Andy Dieringer’s letter to the editor in last week’s Ozaukee Press, “Payment to immigrants one sign of reckless spending bill,” his singular focus purported that the bill included budgetary assistance to families of immigrants separated at the border.

During the last administration, Stephen Miller was Trump’s senior policy adviser orchestrating immigration reform. During their tenure, at least 3,913 children were separated from parents and families. Twenty-four immigrants died in ICE custody during the Trump administration. Six children died. During the Obama administration and before December of 2018, no child had died in HHS custody for more than a decade.

The letter also pondered what else is in the reckless spending bill. All congressional legislators aim high in bill spending and negotiate for equilibrium. The $1.7 trillion is for: climate change and clean energy investments; child care and universal pre-K, expanding access to universal preschool for all 3- and 4-year-olds; Medicare expansion; extended child tax credit; four weeks of paid family and medical leave; housing and health care provisions, improving more than one million new affordable housing units and help with rental and down payment assistance (as recommended via voter polling).

The bill also makes investments in maternal health, community violence initiatives, Native American communities, supply chain resilience. And finally, immigration, including dreamers, coronavirus-era essential workers and farm workers, providing work permits and temporary protection from deportation.

Not sure why the author’s focus was on reckless spending for  immigrants and not the crucial benefits of the bill. There is no legislative $45,000 payout per immigrant separated at the border as the letter claimed.

 America began and continues to be built on the arduous work and ideas of immigrants. Eight signed the Declaration of Independence. Einstein, Fermi and Hamilton were all emigrants. The Christian philosophy of an Aramaic Jew is a religious corner stone in America. Immigrants make up an estimated 73% of agriculture workers in the United States today. They provide the abundance at holiday tables. These workers also pay into Americans Social Security benefits.

The face of America has been changing for decades. Xenophobes need to accept that immigrants have helped strengthen our nation. They need to move forward if

America is to continue as a united, strong republic.
Ken Bretl
Fredonia