The new commercial is slated to run in all 50 states at a cost of $500,000. Council for American Job Growth, an affiliate of the group FWD.us, is sponsoring the ad. Zuckerberg launched the advocacy group FWD.us with the support of Silicon Valley titans such as Bill Gates and Sean Parker and the organization has been one of the most active on the immigration issue.
“The future of this country, our country, is tied to immigration reform,” says the spot, which warns of stagnant job growth and loss of tax revenue if Congress fails to act.
An unusual coalition of business groups, labor and religious organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the nation’s Catholic bishops, has pressed for immigration legislation with little signs of progress in the House.
The Senate passed a comprehensive bill last June that would provide a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the country illegally, tighten border security and add new visa and workplace enforcement programs. The legislation has stalled in the House where Republicans have rejected a comprehensive approach in favor of piecemeal legislation. The House, however, hasn’t voted on any of the individual bills passed by the Judiciary Committee last year.