FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Katie Franklin | (302) 690-0355 | Katie.Franklin@finnpartners.com
Alexandria, Va. – This week, Goodwin Living™, a faith-based, not-for-profit senior living and healthcare organization, joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers and hundreds of business leaders to advocate for common-sense immigration reform. The three-day “Fly In”, held by the American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), highlighted the important role immigrants play in maintaining a strong U.S. economy, and urged policymakers to support H.R. 4393: the DIGNITY Act. Introduced by Reps. Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX), the DIGNITY Act is a bipartisan measure that can address an immediate need to bring clarity and certainty to immigrant workers and employers.
At a press conference held in support of the DIGNITY Act on October 22, Rob Liebreich, president and CEO of Goodwin Living, and Goodwin Living resident, Rita Siebenaler, highlighted the need for policies that will help provide a stable, global workforce to care for the increasing older adult population in the country.
“Unless there is a pathway to citizenship for workers in health and senior care, you are putting American seniors at risk. We seniors are the people who educated your children, staffed hospitals and churches, served in the Armed Forces, paid our taxes and invested in our economy,” said Siebenaler. “Don’t deny us trusted caregivers. The majority of caregivers in the U.S. are foreign born. Almost all are e-verified but need our protection as they work their way to citizenship. They are irreplaceable.”
Approximately 40 percent of Goodwin Living’s team members are foreign-born, representing 80 countries, making immigrants vital to the ability of Goodwin Living to support older adults. They also are critical to the senior care industry nationwide. Immigrant workers represent 17 percent of the overall U.S. labor force, 31 percent of home care workers, 21 percent of residential care aides and nursing assistants and 30.3 percent of nursing home housekeeping and maintenance staff.
“By 2030, 73 million Americans will be over 65 years of age. By 2060, the number of people over 85 will nearly triple! This is worthy of celebration,” Liebreich told reporters at the press conference. “However, the math problem is we know nearly 70 percent of Americans over 65 will require some form of long-term care during their lifetime, so to serve an already large and growing older adult population, we need more hands. Look to your right and look to your left. Two of the three of you will need long term care.”
Liebreich also flagged another consequence of failed immigration systems: the financial burden of senior care.
“Closing our borders to these immigrants has another consequence – Care-flation. Fewer senior living workers equals higher care costs,” said Liebreich. “America can meet the responsibility to serve our grandparents, parents, and our neighbors in their moment of need by the House, Senate and President signing into law legislation that leads to a secure workforce.”
Following the press conference, Goodwin Living leaders joined ABIC members in meetings with more than 200 members of Congress and their legislative staff to advocate for the DIGNITY Act and urgency around challenges to a secure workforce to support the nation’s economy and support of citizens.
Goodwin Living advocated alongside other critical voices at the press conference, including representatives from the hospitality, manufacturing and agriculture sectors. Participating speakers included: Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla); Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Rebecca Shi, CEO of the American Business Immigration Coalition; Monica Villalobos, president and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Matt Teagarden, CEO of the Kansas Livestock Association; John Oswald, CEO of Mills Manufacturing Corp.; Byron Gomez, chef-partner at Bruto in Denver; and Tracy B. Gonzalez of American Families United.
For more information about Goodwin Living, please visit www.GoodwinLiving.org.
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About Goodwin Living™
Goodwin Living™ touches the lives of thousands of people every day through its range of senior living communities, specialized healthcare services, community partnerships and philanthropic endeavors. With a mission to support, honor and uplift the lives of others (specifically older adults and those who care for them), Goodwin Living leads the way in expanding the places and ways we can all thrive and find purpose as we age. Older adults will discover options that meet them where they want to be, and those options are managed and provided by team members who represent more than 65 countries. Goodwin Living has been a Washington Post Top Workplace for seven consecutive years and has been named the #3 Top Workplace for 2025. Get more information at GoodwinLiving.org or by following Goodwin Living on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
