Letter from Congress to Secretary of Labor dated June 30, 2010

QLmtgrenn of the utter: tnten Worthington. B01 ZHSIE June 30, 2010 The Honorable Hilda Solis Secretary of Labor 200 Constitution Ave, NW Washington, DC 20210 Dear Madam Secretary: We write to express our extreme disappointment with the recent advertising campaign the Department of Labor has begun to validate the unlawful employment of undocumented workers by asserting that they have rights to equal pay. This effort is yet another example of the misplaced priorities of the current Administration, and is an affront to hardworking American citizens and legal immigrants who struggle to compete with illegal immigrants to nd employment in these difcult economic times. The rst obligation and duty of a responsible government is to its citizens. If the Administration truly wants to improve the plight of American workers as a whole, it must lirst strictly enforce our immigration laws, ensuring all workers are legal workers. But the message you convey in your new public service announcement (the PSA) is that the rights of lawful American workers facing double-digit unemployment matter less than those of the millions of illegal immigrants working in direct violation otthe laws this Administration is charged with faithfully executing. This is uneonscionable. It is this tendency to pick and choose which laws to enforce that most undermines the Administrations credibility with the American people regarding immigration, Asking the American taxpayer to foot the bill for your Departments program to ensure illegal immigrants are paid fairly is asking just too muclL As such, we ask that you respond by July 14 ofthis year, and provide the following information and explanations regarding the PSA: 1. How much did your Department spend producing and airing the PSA? What was the total cost? 2. Who authorized the PSA'. 3. How many calls has your Department received to date in response to the PSA, and at what total cost? 4. What specic action does the Department plan to take in response to eaelt case of reported abuse? 5. Why is your Depanmcnt providing employment counsel to illegal workers? mum Lt) 0N utmtttu t'NLli