<p>The Senate judiciary Committee has passed S. 744, The Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act with a vote of 13-5. Industry leaders have voiced their support for the passage.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/senate052213body.jpg" alt="Cropped Images May 22nd 2013" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Western Growers applauds the Senate Judiciary Committee on its approval of the legislation. Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif expressed thanks to the Committee for its bi-partisan support of the legislation.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The legislation creates a pathway to citizenship for the 11.5 million illegal immigrants estimated to reside in the United States, initiates a program for low-skilled foreign labor, and increases the number of high skilled workers allowed into the country. It also requires intensive and costly new steps to guard against future illegal immigration<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">“We are very pleased with the progress made by the Senate Judiciary Committee and thank them for all the hard work they've done," Nassif said. “Without workable legislation that fixes our broken immigration system, our farmers cannot provide a secure supply of fresh, domestic food for our nation. We look forward to swift passage in the senate next month.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Nassif, members of the Western Growers Board of Directors and other key leaders are in Washington, D.C. this week meeting with members of Congress and others at this crucial moment for the agricultural industry.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Bob Stallman, President of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said “We believe this bill will help ensure an adequate supply of farm labor but also will provide an increased level of surveillance of high-risk areas along our borders. We know that one of the best ways to improve border security is to create a legal, workable way for farm workers to enter our country.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href="http://www.wga.com/" target="_new">Western Growers</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
