In response to the industry?EUR??,,????'???s need for an affordable labor supply, the Beacon fund has propelled ANLA to the front as a leader in legislative strategy development for the agricultural guest worker (H-2A), service guest worker (H-2B), and immigration policy reform initiatives. The Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR), was formed in February 2001 to lead the lobbying campaign for bipartisan legislation that would offer short-term relief and a long-term safety net for the industry?EUR??,,????'???s labor supply. The coalition if very close to achieving success. ANLA is the founding organization and one of two co-chairs, of ACIR. Nursery and landscape industry contributions to the Beacon Fund assist ANLA with the funding of ACIR to implement our bipartisan legislative strategy. While a positive outcome is in no way guaranteed, the Beacon fund has allowed the industry to take significant steps forward in fighting for available and affordable labor. ANLA and the Beacon Fund are also supporting the activities of the broad-based Essential Worker Immigration Coalition (EWIC), which is pursuing labor and immigration reform to benefit the service industries, including the landscape industry. Our participation in EWIC has been noticed by the State Department, who recently asked ANLA for our feedback on the H-2B program for the service industries. For more information or to make a contribution to the Beacon Fund, contact Craig Regelbrugge or Robert DeGemmis at 202-789-2900.