Immigration reform.

WORKING DRAFT
2009
STATE OF
WYOMING
09LSO-0583.E1

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
NO.
HJ0016

Immigration reform.

Sponsored by:
Representative(s) Philp and Hammons and Senator(s) Peterson

A Bill

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting that Congress pass effective and meaningful immigration law reform designed to protect
Wyoming
's workforce and economic strength of the state's business environment by
effectively protecting and
guard
ing
our nation's borders.

WHEREAS, current federal immigration laws fail to address labor shortages and marketplace dynamics in the
United States
; and

WHEREAS, the lack of guidance from current federal law regarding foreign seasonal employees and guest workers promotes unlawful immigration into the United States and negatively impacts the state's economy; and

WHEREAS, inadequately addressing illegal immigration exhausts the State of Wyoming's limited resources including social services, health care and law enforcement and results in economic hardship for the state and its citizens
and legal residents
; and

WHEREAS,
development of comprehensive immigration policy and law designed to preserve and protect the nation's borders and resources is necessary to safeguard its citizens
and legal residents
; and

WHEREAS,
allowing foreign and guest workers reasonable access to our country's borders serves the needs of Wyoming industry by providing a timely, stable and legal supply of workers where no United States citizen
or legal resident
workers are available; and

WHEREAS, Congress is urged to include the Foreign Worker Visa system as part of any immigration reform; and

WHEREAS, solving the problem of the existence of millions of undocumented persons present in the
United States
is complex and requires immediate attention; and

WHEREAS, development of a national program that efficiently screens and processes applicants for guest worker status is crucial to the health and economic vitality of
Wyoming
businesses and industry; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to develop a guest worker program and immigration policy that facilitates individuals seeking legal entry into the United States for work and reestablishing family relationships; and

WHEREAS,
eliminating current visa backlogs and preventing future backlogs in order to meet workforce demands is crucial to the health of the nation's business and industry; and

WHEREAS, streamlining the processing of H-2A visa applications will enable agricultural employers to hire foreign workers needed for seasonal jobs and will benefit the state's economy.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF
WYOMING
:

Section 1.

That President Barack Obama and the members of the United States Congress take swift action to enhance and enforce federal immigration policy and law and provide a comprehensive solution to the problem of illegal immigration existing in the State of
Wyoming
and the nation.

Section 2.

That Congress is urged to significantly increase the number of immigrant visas issued annually, increase the current limits on H-1B and H-2B visas, particularly in the industries requiring highly trained and educated workers and seasonal hospitality operations, to alleviate the difficulty of hiring guest or seasonal workers.

Section 3.

That Congress is urged to e
xpedite work authorization documents for foreign nationals who obtain university degrees from
United States
institutions to ensure that individuals educated in the
United States
are provided with an opportunity to give back to the nation that has invested in the individual.

Section 4.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation
.

(END)

1
HJ0016