Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar has became the first Republican to cosponsor the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits and Security Act (AgJobs), giving a major boost to this important legislation for the fresh produce industry.

"We're really encouraged that a Republican senator of Lugar’s stature has signed on to cosponsor this bill with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who has been a long-time supporter of the bill," said United Fresh Vice President of Public Policy Robert Guenther.  "We all know that comprehensive immigration reform is controversial, but AgJobs can offer a bipartisan solution at least for agricultural workers."

The AgJobs legislation reforms the H-2A seasonal worker program and provides for earned legal status for undocumented farm workers to ensure the industry has access to a reliable and legal workforce. Companion legislation has been introduced in the House by Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Adam Putnam (R-FL).

"This legislation is important to maintaining domestically grown supplies of healthy foods.  It incentivizes employers to hire a legal workforce and streamlines procedures for agriculture workers under the existing H-2A program where U.S. workers are not available," Sen. Lugar said. "There has consistently been bipartisan support for AgJobs legislation."