The nation has been embroiled in a noisy debate over immigration that has stalled progress on immigration reform for close to a year. The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) and numerous state and local landscape contractor associations have supported new and permanent legislation allowing more guest workers to enter the country.

“This extension protects workers, and gives us another congressional session to keep up the fight until we make this cap exemption permanent,” said Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), a sponsor of the provision.

Efforts in Congress to increase the number of H-2B visas overall have so far been unsuccessful.

The Federation of Employers and Workers of America (FEWA), along with the National Restaurant Association and landscaping groups worked together on the H-2B Workforce Coalition that led the national effort responsible for enactment of the one-year extension of the program?EUR??,,????'???s returning worker exemption.

?EUR??,,????'??This is a great win for the green industry,?EUR??,,????'?? said John Farner, director of legislative relations for the ANLA. ?EUR??,,????'??Our community depends on a temporary worker program that meets the economic needs of our employers; this fix affords our industry the non-agricultural seasonal workers we need to keep our businesses running.?EUR??,,????'??

Sources: HispanicBusiness.com, anla.org, fewa.org