To the Editor:
Senator Mark Warner is widely known for his efforts to represent all Virginians. Throughout his years in office he has successfully engaged the Commonwealth’s many cultures, ethnicities and religions. This is not just good democracy – it’s also great for business.
Immigrants account for about a quarter of American jobs in critical STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), and about a quarter of new patents and new start-ups. Additionally, the children of these immigrant professionals are already key contributors to the present and future US workforce.
Senator Warner gets it. For years he’s Chaired the Senate’s India Caucus, and more recently he visited the ADAMS Center mosque in Sterling, where I met him during Friday prayer services as he offered us a greeting on the start of Ramadan. During his visit, he met with community leaders and stressed the importance of a strong economic vision and other issues important to the thousands of Muslim American professionals and families throughout Virginia.
As a small-business owner, I appreciate Mark Warner's work to foster the right environment to attract and retain new businesses. He has been a leader to pass legislation expanding resources for start-ups, and he has consistently reached across the aisle to support tax credits encouraging entrepreneurship. Senator Warner understands that for our nation to succeed we must keep opportunities open for all Americans, regardless of their backgrounds.
I respect Mark Warner for representing Virginia well. As a businessman, a second-generation American, and a proud Virginian, I look forward to supporting him in November, so he can continue his work to represent us all.
Mehmood Kazmi
Great Falls