ANLA Commends Bi-Partisan Introduction of Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) applauded the leadership of a bipartisan group of Representatives who this week announced the introduction of the “Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007” (STRIVE Act).  Authored by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, (D-Ill.), and Rep. Jeff Flake, (R-Ariz.), the STRIVE Act comprehensively address the nation's critically dysfunctional immigration system. This legislation has been co-sponsored by many on both sides of the aisle.

The key components of the bill include increased border security, an electronic employee verification system, a year-round temporary worker program, earned adjustment for the 12 million undocumented people currently in the United States, and the “AgJOBS” reforms.

“We are pleased that the bill appears to have all of the building blocks needed for meaningful reform to happen, said John Farner, ANLA’s director of legislative relations.  “A fair and open debate on the merits and benefits of comprehensive reform is overdue in the U.S. House of Representatives; we thank Representatives Gutierrez and Flake for their efforts in taking the first step in advancing this debate.”

No schedule has been determined for when the STRIVE Act will be debated in the House Judiciary Committee, however, Speaker Pelosi has previously indicated that debate on immigration reform should begin sometime this spring.

“The inclusion of AgJOBS in the STRIVE Act highlights the unique needs of agriculture,” said Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA’s vice president of government relations and research.  “The time for Congress to engage in this issue is now.  Our industry, along with the rest of labor intensive agriculture, is at a labor shortage breaking point that Congress must address this year.”