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May 30, 2013
Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) on May 21 by a bipartisan vote of 13 to 5.
The member organizations of the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (AWC) issued a statement welcoming the measure and calling on the Senate to pass the bill quickly. "The legislation includes agricultural provisions that … are vital to ensuring that America’s farmers and ranchers can find the workers they need to pick crops, prune trees or care for animals," wrote the groups.
As a hot-button issue, the immigration reform bill drew nearly 300 amendments, however the agricultural provisions remained untouched. The Senate is likely to take up the bill following the Memorial Day recess.
The AWC brings together organizations representing the diverse needs of agricultural employers across the country. AWC serves as the unified voice of agriculture in the effort to ensure that America’s farmers, ranchers and growers have access to a stable and secure workforce.
To learn more about AWC, visit www.agworkforcecoalition.org.
