[Draft Letter to Senators]

The Honorable XXXXX

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator…

I am writing to you about an urgent issue that will have a tremendous effect on the horse industry, the agricultural industry and our national economy. As you are well aware, Congress has begun to focus its efforts on immigration enforcement and border security. As these debates continue, I respectfully urge you to include the desperate need for comprehensive immigrant and non-immigrant worker reform in the debate.

Maintaining a practical, streamlined guest-worker program is pivotal to the stability of the horse industry and our nation’s agricultural industry, particularly as we face a dire labor shortage.

The American Horse Council’s 2005 Economic Impact of the Horse Industry on the United States report documents that the horse industry has a total economic impact of $102 billion, supports 1.4 million jobs, pays $2 billion in taxes and includes 4.7 million Americans. As a [breeder, owner, rancher, trainer, etc.], my horse operation employees [explain your operation and any related figures].

In order to maintain this industry, we also rely on legal foreign workers who provide both semi-skilled and entry-level labor in jobs American workers are not filling. Many of these workers are seasonal, though some are not.

Currently, the H-2A guest worker program is not designed to meet the practical needs of the horse industry. Targeted reform bills, such as AgJOBS (S.359, H.R.884), would overhaul and streamline the current system. Other bi-partisan bills in both the Senate and House offer good ideas on comprehensive reform. I ask that you consider legislation that provides American employers access to a legal and stable workforce as part of any comprehensive action on immigration reform. It is critical that any final bill include changes to the current H-2A program and an earned adjustment provision so that the current employees, many of whom are in management roles, can transition into legal status without sharply disrupting American businesses that rely on them. This realistic approach to reform protects our national economy and our national security.

Please support comprehensive immigration reform as an important and necessary part of this national debate. If you have any questions about [Name of State and Business, farm, ranch], please feel free to contact us. Thank you for preserving our industry and livelihoods.

Sincerely,