YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Bill Owen of UMB Bank officiated the event, which featured three speakers: Stephanie Polis, director of congressional and public affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Mike Briggs, president of Willow Brook Foods; and Yolanda Lorge, president of Grupo Latinoamericano.
The purpose of the forum was to educate the committee before it suggests legislative agenda items to the chamber board of directors later this month. The chamber board will form its 2007 legislative agenda in December.
All three speakers said the government should make immigrating legally easier while maintaining national security standards.
Lorge, who hails from Mexico, spoke on behalf of her countrymen and women, while Polis and Briggs said businesses need willing workers to fill a growing number of vacancies. Briggs said American employers would face a shortage of 20 million workers by 2026.
They also advocated employer protections for hiring immigrants under the current system in good faith that they are legal.
Other topics addressed by the Governmental Relations Committee this year have included taxes and minimum wage.[[In-content Ad]]
Dame Chiropractic LLC emerged as the new name of Harshman Chiropractic Clinic LLC with the purchase of the business; Leo Kim added a second venture, Keikeu LLC, to 14 Mill Market; and Mercy Springfield Communities opened its second primary care clinic in Ozark.