Western Governors Urge Senate Action on Comprehensive Immigration Reform (6/22/07)

on 22 June 2007.

Western Governors Urge Senate Action on Comprehensive Immigration Reform

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 22 , 2007
Contact: Kevin Moran, D.C. Office Director, 202-624-5402

DENVER ' Govs. Janet Napolitano ( Ariz.) and Jon Huntsman, Jr. ( Utah), the Western Governors' Association's leads for immigration issues, urged Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today to take up and pass comprehensive immigration reform.

WGA has long-standing policy on border security and illegal immigration. The text of the letter follows:

June 22, 2007

The Honorable Harry Reid
Senate Majority Leader
S-230 Capitol Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Majority Leader Reid:

On behalf of all Western Governors, we are writing to urge the Senate to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation as soon as possible, which is among the highest of priorities for the Western States. This policy should have the overarching purpose of protecting and preserving the safety and interests of the United States and its citizens while recognizing our nation's economic needs to have a stable and legal supply of workers where there are no willing United States workers otherwise available. Western farmers and other businesses need to have a steady supply of seasonal and year-round workers in order to meet their demand.

We therefore urge the Senate to pass a comprehensive bill meeting the West's legitimate security interests without unreasonably delaying our economic needs.

Thank you for your consideration of this important request.

Sincerely,

Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., Governor of Utah
Janet Napolitano, Governor of Arizona

cc: Senate Minority Leader McConnell
Speaker of the House Pelosi
House Majority Leader Hoyer
House Minority Leader Boehner
All Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee
All Members of the House Judiciary Committee

The Western Governors' Association is an independent, nonprofit organization representing the governors of 19 states and three U.S.-Flag islands in the Pacific. Through their Association, the Western governors identify and address key policy and governance issues in natural resources, the environment, human services, economic development, international relations and public management.

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