Forum to Address Illegal Immigration

Three San Fernando Valley congressmen and two other lawmakers from the region will be the featured guests at a forum on the effect of illegal immigration on the Valley’s business climate, it was announced this week.

Already confirmed to attend the Jan. 19 seminar, sponsored by the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn. and the Latin American Business Assn., are Reps. Howard Berman (D-Panorama City), Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Woodland Hills) and Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), said VICA officials.

Also scheduled to attend are Reps. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) and Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles), Kevin McCarthy from the Rand Corp., and Ronald Tasoff, an immigration attorney. “We want to hear what the impact of illegal immigration is on Valley businesses,” said Bill Kenney, co-chairman of VICA’s federal legislation committee.

“We want to identify some of the problems--if there are ones--and then take a look at some of the pending legislative proposals to see if they address the problems we find,” Kenney said.

After the forum, Kenney said VICA members will decide what positions the group should take on a dozen immigration proposals now pending in Washington. In April, VICA leadership will go to the nation’s capital to present local lawmakers with the organization’s legislative wish-list.

The forum will be held at the Warner Center Hilton from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 19, and it will be open to the public. Non-members of VICA and the Latin American Business Assn. will be asked to pay a $30 attendance fee.