WASHINGTON, D.C.?EUR??,,????'??+The American Nursery and Landscape Association, and the National Council of Agricultural Employers have called new bipartisan immigration reform bills introduced in the House and Senate a major step forward in helping to meet the worsening labor shortage of agricultural and horticultural employers. New federal legislation would reform the H-2A guest worker program and allow trained and experienced farm and nursery workers who lack proper work authorization to earn the right to permanent legal status through perspective work and lawful behavior. On Sept. 23, 2003, the Agricultural Job, Opportunity, Benefits and Security Act of 2003 (S. 1645 and H.R. 3142) was introduced by Senators Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Representatives Chris Cannon (R-Utah) and Howard Berman (D-Calif.). ANLA, which co-chairs the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform, worked to create bipartisan agreement on H2-A reform. ?EUR??,,????'??ANLA congratulates these leaders in Congress for their vision, their steadfast commitment and their courage to take the first step toward resolving problems that have built up over decades, and threaten the stability and very survival of our industries,?EUR??,,????'?? said ANLA President Dale Bachman, of Bachman?EUR??,,????'???s in Minneapolis. According to the ANLA, the proposed legislation would benefit landscapers by allowing so-called ?EUR??,,????'??adjusting workers?EUR??,,????'?? to work in other industries, such as landscaping or food processing. The workers would need to meet a minimum required days of service in agricultural occupations each year during a three to six year adjustment period. The new Act would make the H-2A program less of a paperwork nightmare for participating agricultural and horticultural employers. It would allow about 500,000 agricultural workers who lack authorized immigration status the opportunity to apply for permanent resident status after continuing to work at least 360 days in agriculture over the next six years. ?EUR??,,????'??This legislation represents the coming together of traditional adversaries in agriculture, in pursuit of a common good that serves well the interests of workers and small and family businesses, which are the backbone of our economy,?EUR??,,????'?? said Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA senior director of government relations and co-chair of ACIR. ?EUR??,,????'??It also affirms our great nation?EUR??,,????'???s longstanding traditions of rewarding hard work and welcoming those in pursuit of the American dream.?EUR??,,????'??