Dear Editor,
The West Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO proudly supports HF 4/SF 27, Immigrants Drivers’ License legislation. This important legislation will strengthen public safety, improve accessibility, and expand people’s freedom to provide for their families. Immigration may be a federal policy issue, but it impacts everyone in communities across Minnesota.
Here in western Minnesota, immigrants are a vital part of all our communities and local economies. Towns like Moorhead, Wilmar, Worthington, Park Rapids and many others in our region have strong, vibrant immigrant communities with deep roots to the area going back generations. HF 4/SF 27 is a public safety issue, a fairness issue, a community issue, and an economic issue for these local communities.
Minnesota’s roads will be safer when drivers are trained, tested and licensed. Allowing immigrants to be well trained and tested, before obtaining a driver’s license, will benefit everyone on the road. It’s common sense that the roads are safer when all drivers are knowledgeable about traffic rules and regulations.
Access to Driver’s licenses also helps build strong, inclusive and economically prosperous communities for working families. Getting to things like school conferences and extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities and church is so much easier with the freedom to drive. Expanding the freedom to drive to immigrants encourages community involvement and creates a sense of belonging.
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Driving is a necessity, not a choice, for the majority of families living in western Minnesota.. Having a driver’s license allows a person to reliably commute to work, especially in rural areas where public transportation is not an option. Having a driver’s license gives a family the freedom to fully participate in community life at school, church and rest of their community. That’s good for everyone. The West Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO proudly supports HF 4/SF 27.
Mark Froemke, president
West Area Labor Council AFL-CIO
The Trust Project
