The last, best chance for immigration reform

Tom Nassif of Western Growers is headed to Washington, D.C. this week and will be pushing hard for Congressional action on immigration reform. Here is the April 20 news release from WG about what Nassif calls the "last, best chance" for immigration reform. I have a time tomorrow to connect with Tom about this effort.

IRVINE, Calif., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Western Growers officials today announced the launch of a concentrated culminating campaign in its three year-long drive to win approval of immigration reform to create a legal, stable work force for agriculture. The concentrated effort will seek to achieve passage of immigration reform prior to the adjournment of Congress for the 2007 summer recess. The campaign will involve focused lobbying, media and education efforts to bring about comprehensive immigration reform that would include provisions for legalizing the estimated 1.2 million illegal agriculture workers in the United States. The effort will push for approval of the AgJOBS provision in the comprehensive reform bill or passage of AgJOBS as a stand alone bill if necessary.
"It is clear that the last, best chance for immigration reform in the foreseeable future is upon us. If Congress does not move on this critical issue and approve sensible immigration reform before it adjourns for the summer recess this country will have lost its last, best chance to fix our broken immigration policy for at least several years," said Tom Nassif, President and CEO of Western Growers. "Agriculture is truly in desperate need of reform. We are heartened to see that we have now been joined by other associations in our industry. That can only make our campaign stronger. We will not rest until we have done everything possible to secure passage of immigration reform. Our workers need it, our farmers need it, our industry needs it and our nation needs reform. We have run out of patience. Now's the time for action."
The AgJOBS bill, known as the Agriculture Job Opportunity, Benefit and Security Act of 2007, was reintroduced in January by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Larry Craig (R-ID) and Representatives George Radonovich (R-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA). It was originally co-sponsored by Republican Senators Craig, Mel Martinez of Florida and George Voinocivh of Ohio. Democratic senators Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts and Barbara Boxer of California also co-sponsored the legislation. The House bill ultimately gained more than 25 co-sponsors, divided between the two parties. AgJOBS also enjoys the broad support of an unusual coalition including Western Growers, the United Farm Workers Union, the Catholic Church and an array of activists, agriculture associations, labor and church leaders. The bill was included as a provision of the broader comprehensive immigration reform bill.
"Allowing our immigration policy to deteriorate to the point that it has become such a major catastrophe is a national scandal," said Nassif. "Congress now has a chance to resolve this crisis. The President has pushed for reform since he took office. All it takes now is for our representatives to gather the political will to bring about real reform. We will campaign to remind them of their opportunity and of their duty. We have one simple message: 'We need action ... now!' We trust they will hear us."