HIRONO AGAIN PUSHES TO MAKE IMMIGRATION BILL FAIRER FOR WOMEN

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Mazie K. Hirono today took to the Senate floor to highlight a major flaw in the immigration reform bill currently being debated in the Senate. In her remarks, Hirono pointed out how the new merit-based immigration system that gives preference to potential immigrants with high level education and technical expertise would heavily disadvantage women, since women across the globe do not have the same educational and career opportunities as men.

“Too many women overseas do not have the same educational or career advancement opportunities available to men in those countries,” Hirono once again said. “This legislation increases the amount of employment based visas, immigration avenues that favor men over women by nearly a four to one margin. Using the past as our guide, it’s easy to see how the new merit-based system with heavy emphasis on factors like education and experience will disadvantage women who apply for green card status.”

Senator Hirono said she is working with her female colleagues to introduce an amendment that would correct this unfairness.

Watch Hirono’s full remarks here: http://youtu.be/oz2CmvAKXvg