Green Industry: Immigration reform needed

More than 400 leading U.S. businesses and advocacy organizations–including the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), Irrigation Association and the American Nursery & Landscape Association–signed a letter calling on the U.S. Congress on July 30 to enact immigration reform legislation. This move came one week after nearly 200 people participated in PLANET’s annual Legislative Day on the Hill event in Washington D.C., where immigration reform and the H-2B guest-worker visa program were major points of interest.

This year’s Legislative Day on the Hill turnout was a 60 percent increase over last year’s attendance. Members of PLANET and its partner organizations–Tree Care Industry Association, Snow & Ice Management Association and Accredited Snow Contractors Association–met with legislative office staff from 25 states.

The letter was signed by a broad cross section of industries, including agriculture, housing, retail, tourism, hospitality, technology, engineering, manufacturing, finance, venture capital, consumer electronics and others with a combined presence in every state in the U.S. It was addressed to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, urging Congress to enact legislation that would reform “an outdated, broken immigration system,” saying such change is is essential to fully revitalize the economy.

“Done right, reform will also serve to protect and complement our U.S. workforce, generating greater productivity and economic activity that will lead to new innovations, products, businesses and jobs in communities across the U.S.,” the letter said.