Leahy Secures Help For Vermont’s Dairy Farmers
In Need Of Foreign Workers

…Judiciary Committee Approves Provision Extending Visas For Foreign Agriculture, Dairy Workers

WASHINGTON (Monday, March 27) – Senator Patrick Leahy, (D-Vt.), Monday won a major victory for Vermont’s dairy farmers when he and his allies won Senate Judiciary Committee approval of their amendment to extend work visas for foreign agriculture workers.  The amendment was added to the major immigration reform package that is now before the committee.

Leahy, the panel’s ranking Democratic member, has been pushing to include legislation in the panel’s immigration package to help dairy farmers in Vermont and other states legally hire foreign workers.  The bipartisan provision approved by the panel would make dairy workers able to work on visas for up to 3 years, with opportunity to adjust to permanent residence.

“This is good news for Vermont’s dairy farmers who are the backbone of Vermont's economy,” said Leahy. “Immigrant workers contribute to our industry's vitality and this provision offers a way for illegal workers to come out of the shadows and obtain legal permanent residency.” 

Leahy is also a cosponsor of the AgJobs Bill, which would reform the H2-A visa program for temporary agricultural labor. The AgJobs bill has broad bipartisan support in the Senate, and it has support from a broad coalition of the agriculture industry. 

The Judiciary Committee has been working on the comprehensive immigration package for several weeks now.  The bill is expected to face considerable debate on the Senate floor over the next two weeks.

Leahy also led earlier efforts in the Committee to strip out of the package a controversial proposal to study building a wall, fence or barrier system across the 3,145-mile-long U.S.-Canadian border.

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