Marek states that if the estimated 2.5 million undocumented immigrants in Texas were protected from deportation, they would have to start paying taxes like all other Texas residents while continuing to boost the Texas economy by billions of dollars.

I love the construction industry and I speak from experience when telling you it has to be saved from itself. Since 1938, our family business has helped build the monuments of this city and this state. More importantly, our companies – like many others over the past 75 years – have helped tens of thousands of hard-working Americans enjoy an honorable blue collar, middle class standard of living. But, now our middle class is threatened like never before.

I have been in the construction industry my whole life.  As was my great grandfather who built the castles in Olomouc, Czech Republic but left to find the freedom offered by emigrating to America.  My Father and his brothers started our company 75 years ago with the sons of immigrant farmers from Central Texas towns like Yoakum, Hallettsville, and Shiner.  After many years of success in building a quality labor force of young men off the farm, the equation changed.  Latino workers came by the millions to fill the jobs that our growing nation provided.  President Reagan's immigration reform in 1986 offered amnesty for those already in the country but failed to create a legal way to migrate for the millions who would come after them.Estimates are that over 30 million men and women immigrated to the U.S. in the two decades from 1986 to 2006.  Some left after a few years, but most stayed, put down roots, and tried to assimilate into their communities.  

The labor situation in Houston is heading into the biggest crisis we have ever seen.  For decades, our industry has relied on an immigrant labor force that, prior to 9/11, could cross our borders with very little problem.  That all changed after that tragic day and now crossing the border can be extremely expensive as well as dangerous.After the subprime mess and the fall out, many in the construction industry found that the jobs they once took for granted were gone.  Many returned to their native countries while others changed jobs, usually accepting less pay and fewer opportunities.  Contractors were pressured to lay off employees and hire “contract labor” to try to compete for a much smaller volume of work.With the failure of government agencies to uniformly enforce wage and hour laws, many “contract” workers paid no payroll taxes, overtime, or costs of workers’ compensation insurance.  This gave them a tremendous cost advantage that ultimately led to lower wages throughout the industry.