Immigration reform bill to be revived this week
Immigration reform bill to be revived this week
WASHINGTON -- Debate on an immigration reform bill is expected to resume late this week, after Senate leaders brokered a deal to limit the number of amendments and add new border security provisions to the bill.
"When the bill returns to the Senate floor, I plan to add $4.4 billion in guaranteed funding -- to be funded by the fees and penalties established by the bill's new programs -- to strengthen border security and speed other important elements of comprehensive reform," said Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
Senate leaders have been busy horse-trading since the measure was pulled June 7 from the Senate floor. But passage of the bill -- a domestic policy priority for President Bush -- is far from assured as leading opponents have threatened to kill any measure that would allow millions of illegal immigrants to gain legal status here.
"When Majority Leader Reid pulled the bill from the floor, we were confident that there would be enough pressure to 'do something' rather than 'do nothing,' and that the bill would be brought back," said Craig Regelbrugge of the American Nursery & Landscape Association. "Senate passage is not assured, though it feels that the momentum is shifting from the naysayers to the reformers."
Mr. Regelbrugge, who also co-chairs the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, said that AgJOBS supporters will be watching for amendments that would require unauthorized workers to "touch-back" and leave the United States to apply for legal status or to change eligibility for the earned legalization program in any way that would exclude experienced farmworkers.
In the meantime, growers, producers, processors and retailers need to make their voices heard in the Senate, he said. "Those supporting reform are being drowned out by a noisy minority that has opposed any realistic solution."
"When the bill returns to the Senate floor, I plan to add $4.4 billion in guaranteed funding -- to be funded by the fees and penalties established by the bill's new programs -- to strengthen border security and speed other important elements of comprehensive reform," said Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV).
Senate leaders have been busy horse-trading since the measure was pulled June 7 from the Senate floor. But passage of the bill -- a domestic policy priority for President Bush -- is far from assured as leading opponents have threatened to kill any measure that would allow millions of illegal immigrants to gain legal status here.
"When Majority Leader Reid pulled the bill from the floor, we were confident that there would be enough pressure to 'do something' rather than 'do nothing,' and that the bill would be brought back," said Craig Regelbrugge of the American Nursery & Landscape Association. "Senate passage is not assured, though it feels that the momentum is shifting from the naysayers to the reformers."
Mr. Regelbrugge, who also co-chairs the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, said that AgJOBS supporters will be watching for amendments that would require unauthorized workers to "touch-back" and leave the United States to apply for legal status or to change eligibility for the earned legalization program in any way that would exclude experienced farmworkers.
In the meantime, growers, producers, processors and retailers need to make their voices heard in the Senate, he said. "Those supporting reform are being drowned out by a noisy minority that has opposed any realistic solution."
