Senator Jeff Flake
Immigration is a hot-button topic throughout our country, and policies impact many aspects of our lives. Whatever problems our country faces, we continue to be seen as the “land of opportunity,” attracting people for educational, business, political and personal reasons. The topic is especially compelling here because Arizona is a border state. Our focus in this December edition of In Business Magazine is how immigration touches business.
Across the spectrum of skill levels, from first-time agricultural workers to U.S.-trained foreign Ph.D.s, there are domestic industries that rely and will continue to rely on foreign labor. If our economy is to rebound and the United States is to stay on the cutting edge of innovation in the global marketplace, our immigration system has to ensure that U.S. businesses have access to the workers they need, and that we remain a place for the world’s best and brightest to find a home.
Even as strictly a business issue, immigration has multiple facets. In this month’s cover story — “The Immigration Effect: Boom or Bust for Business?” — Joe Bardin examines questions of workforce talent, business innovation, global trade, revenue and economic growth. Business and community/political leaders are forthcoming with him as to their experience and goals regarding immigration as a force on business.
I am also pleased to introduce readers to the other articles that will appear in this month’s issue, including a piece on captive insurance — an alternative to traditional policies — and another on office pools as gambling. And Howard Ross gives readers a view of how basic bias is in human interaction and how to mitigate its impact in the workplace.
With more articles on business activity, healthcare, technology and more to inform and engage the reader, In Business Magazine continues to be a reliable resource for the Greater Phoenix business community. I am pleased to have been invited to contribute.
Sincerely,
Senator Jeff Flake
United States Senator – Arizona
U.S. Senator Jeff Flake is a fifth-generation Arizonan who was raised on a cattle ranch in Snowflake. Before his election to the U.S. House, he worked in southern Africa as executive director of the Foundation for Democracy in Namibia, and as executive director of the Goldwater Institute in Arizona, promoting limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility.
Prior to his election to the U.S. Senate, Sen. Flake served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2001-2012. In the Senate, he sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, where he is ranking member of the Subcommittee on African Affairs, and on the Judiciary and Energy and Natural Resources committees.
