ANLA and OFA are busy preparing for the expected Congressional debate on repairing America’s immigration system. In addition to mobilizing ANLA and OFA member participation and support for the recent “Bibles, Badges, and Business” immigration summit in Washington, DC, here are a few of the other activities in which your associations have been involved:
- ANLA has participated in two recent small-group meetings with key White House staff to discuss immigration reform. The White House has signaled that this issue is its top priority once the “fiscal cliff” has been addressed.
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently held an immigration issue briefing for its Labor Policy Committee. The briefing spotlighted specific goals and dynamics in two industries – the lead lobbyist for Microsoft provided a high-tech industry update, and ANLA vice president for government relations, Craig Regelbrugge, provided agricultural industry perspectives.
- As part of a unified agriculture industry initiative, ANLA and ACIR are deeply involved in the ongoing quest to refine a bipartisan agricultural labor legislative solution. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and others are working with the industry and worker advocates to negotiate a legislative package that would become the agricultural element of a broader immigration reform bill. It could also move as a stand-alone bill or part of a smaller incremental effort.
ANLA and OFA remind members to take advantage of any and every opportunity to raise the urgency of legislative reforms to provide a practical and common sense workforce solutions with your Congressional representatives or their staff, between now and early January when the new Congress is sworn in.
