Over 400 Major U.S. Businesses and Advocacy Organizations Call for Immigration Reform in U.S. House

Broad, Ad-hoc Coalition Calls Reform Essential to Achieve Fully Revitalized U.S. Economy

WASHINGTON, July 30, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, more than 400 leading U.S. businesses and advocacy organizations called on the U.S. Congress to enact immigration reform legislation. The letter was signed by a broad cross section of industries that includes agriculture, housing, retail, tourism, hospitality, technology, engineering, manufacturing, finance, venture capital, consumer electronics and others with a combined presence in every state in the United States.

The letter can be found here: http://bit.ly/18OVlYP 

The following is the text of the letter that was sent to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi:

"The undersigned organizations urge the United States Congress to enact legislation that would bring meaningful reforms to critical components of our nation's immigration system.  Reform of an outdated, broken immigration system is essential if we are to achieve a fully revitalized economy that provides rewarding and lasting jobs and opportunities for all Americans.

"Thought leaders from across the ideological spectrum agree that enacting immigration reform now will accelerate U.S. economic growth at a critical time when it has struggled to recover, and will help to enable sustained growth for decades to come.  Done right, reform will also serve to protect and complement our U.S. workforce, generating greater productivity and economic activity that will lead to new innovations, products, businesses, and jobs in communities across the U.S.

"We deal with an immigration system that is now in its third decade and completely incapable of being responsive to an ever-changing national economy and hypercompetitive global marketplace.  Today, the problems with our immigration system have grown and multiplied to become an emerging threat to the current and future productivity, ingenuity, and competitiveness of key sectors of our economy, including agriculture, housing, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, tourism, engineering, and technology.

"We are united in the belief that we can and must do better for our economy and country by modernizing our immigration system.  We already have been engaged with many members of Congress -- Republicans and Democrats -- on numerous components of a modern immigration system, and we urge that you not let this momentum slip and progress vanish.

"Failure to act is not an option.  We can't afford to be content and watch a generation-old immigration system work more and more against our overall national interest.  Instead, we urge Congress to remain mindful of the clear benefits to our economy if we succeed, and work together and with us to achieve real, pro-growth immigration reform."

The following is a list of companies, associations and organizations that have signed on to the letter:

Adams Insurance Service, Inc.

Adobe

Advanced Decisions, Inc.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)

AGCO Corporation

Albany-Colonie (NY) Regional Chamber

Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers

ALOM

American Action Forum

American Action Network

American Association of University Women (AAUW)

American Beekeeping Federation

American Coatings Association

American Council of Engineering Companies

American Council on International Personnel

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Feed Industry Association

American Honey Producers Association

American Hotel & Lodging Association

American Immigration Lawyers Association

American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

American Jewish Committee (NJ)

American Meat Institute

American Nursery & Landscape Association

American Project Consultants, LLC

American Sheep Industry Association

American Standard Development Company

Anaheim (CA) Chamber of Commerce

Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce

Applied Materials

Appvance Inc.

Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Arizona Farm Bureau Federation

Arizona Nursery Association

Arizona Technology Council

Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas

Arlington Chamber of Commerce (Texas)

Arsenal Venture Partners

Aspen Square Hotel

Associated Industries of Massachusetts

Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Association for Competitive Technology

AT&T

Austin Ventures

Autodesk, Inc.

Avid Park Capital, LLC

Axcelis Technologies

Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber

Baton Rouge Area (LA) Chamber

Belton Area Chamber of Commerce

Bennington Area (VT) Chamber of Commerce

Blount Partnership

Brokaw Nursery, Inc.

BSA | The Software Alliance

Buckeye Valley (AZ) Chamber of Commerce

Business Council of Alabama

Business Council of New York State, Inc.

Cabarrus (NC) Regional Chamber of Commerce

Cadence Design Systems

California Chamber of Commerce

California Cotton Ginners Association

California Farm Bureau Federation

California Grape and Tree Fruit League

California Strawberry Commission

CALinnovates

Camarata Masonry Systems, Ltd.

Capital Factory

Cargill

Carpet Empire Plus

Cervilenz Inc.

Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County (IN)

Chamber of Commerce Southwest LA

Chambers of Commerce Alliance of Ventura & Santa Barbara Counties (CA)

Chandler (AZ) Chamber of Commerce

Cherry Lane Farms

Chicago Southland (IL) Chamber of Commerce

Chicagoland (IL) Chamber of Commerce

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Collaborative Communications

Colorado Association of Commerce & Industry

Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association

Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc.  (LA)

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Compete America

CompTIA

Computer & Communications Industry Association

Concord Servicing Corporation

Concord Software Leasing Corporation

Connecticut Nursery and Landscape Association

Consumer Electronics Association

Cordele-Crisp (GA) Chamber of Commerce

Corning Incorporated

Cottonwood Technology Fund - NVCA Member

Dairy Producers of New Mexico

Dakota County (MN) Regional Chamber of Commerce

Dallas Regional Chamber

Danna & Danna, Inc.

Danna Farms, Inc.

Danna Investment Co.

Danna Land Co.

Danna Properties, LP

Daytona (FL) Regional Chamber of Commerce

Dell

Deloitte LLP

Delta Planning, Inc.

Denton Glass Company

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce

Diversified Thermal Insulation

Dow Chemical Company

East Bay (RI) Chamber of Commerce

eBay Inc.

EcoFactor Inc.

Edison Ventures

Einstein's Alley NJ

Elance, Inc.

EMC

EnerNOC, Inc.

Engine

Erie (PA) Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership

ETM-Electromatic Inc.

Everett Partners, Ltd

F5 Networks

Facebook

Fall River Area (MA) Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Farmers Investment Co

Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce

Finelite Inc.

FirstFruits of Washington

Fitzgerald Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies

Florida Chamber of Commerce

Florida Nursery, Growers & Landscape Association

FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.

FWD.US

Gatlinburg (TN) Chamber of Commerce

Gazzang INc

General Electric

Georgia Chamber of Commerce

Georgia Green Industry Association

Gilbert (AZ) Chamber of Commerce

Global Immigration Benchmarking Council

GLOBALFOUNDRIES

Google Inc.

Great Lakes Metro Chambers Coalition

Greater Boca Raton (FL) Chamber of Commerce

Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce

Greater Des Moines (IA) Partnership

Greater Durham (NC) Chamber of Commerce

Greater El Paso Chamber of Commerce

Greater Houston Partnership

Greater Indianapolis (IN) Chamber of Commerce

Greater Irving-Las Colinas (TX) Chamber of Commerce

Greater Memphis (TN) Chamber

Greater Pittsburgh (PA) Chamber of Commerce

Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce

Greater Richmond (VA) Chamber

Greater San Antonio (TX) Chamber of Commerce

Greater Topeka (KS) Chamber of Commerce

Green Bay Area (WI) Chamber of Commerce

Grok Inc.

Grower-Shipper Association of Central California

Henderson County (NC) Chamber of Commerce

Hilton Head Island-Bluffton (SC) Chamber of Commerce

Hilton Worldwide

Hispanic Leadership Network

HR Policy Association

Hudson County (NJ) Chamber of Commerce

Huffman & Hawbaker Farms

IBC Bank

IBM Corporation

Idaho Farm Bureau Federation

Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Illinois Farm Bureau

Illinois Green Industry Association

Illinois Technology Association

Indiana Chamber of Commerce

Indiana Farm Bureau

Indiana Nursery and Landscape Association

Indiana Restaurant & Lodging Association

Infinera

Information Technology Industry Council

Ingersoll Rand

inSPIRE STEM USA

Intel Corporation

International Dairy Foods Association

Intersouth Partners

Intuit

IRONCO Enterprises LLC

Irrigation Association

Jan Medical, Inc.

Jefferson Chamber of Commerce

Johnson City TN Chamber of Commerce

JumpStart Inc.

Juniper Networks

K & W Mfg. Co., Inc.

Kansas Chamber of Commerce

Kansas Farm Bureau

Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce

Kingsport CoC

Kleiner Perkins Caufield Byers

KnowledgeTree Inc.

Kovio, Inc.

Laredo (TX) Chamber of Commerce

Las Vegas (NV) Metro Chamber of Commerce

Lassen Canyon Nursery, Inc.

Lee & Hayes, PLLC

Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce

LiveOps, Inc.

Lone Star Boat, RV & Self Storage

Longview (TX) Chamber of Commerce

Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)

Loudoun County (VA) Chamber of Commerce

Louisiana Irrigation Association

Lubbock (TX) Chamber of Commerce

Madrona Venture Group

Manhattan (NY) Chamber of Commerce

Marvell Semiconductor, Inc.

Maryland Nursery and Landscape Association

Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange (MITX)

Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership

Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council

MC Marketing Group LLC

Melaleuca, Inc.

MetricStream

Metro South Chamber of Commerce

Michigan Apple Association

Michigan Farm Bureau

Michigan Milk Producers Association

Michigan Nursery & Landscape Association

Microsoft Corp.

Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

MIND Research Institute

Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

Minnesota Farm Bureau

Minnesota High Tech Association

Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association

Mitsubishi International Corporation

Monterey County Farm Bureau

Morgenthaler

Morris County (NJ) Chamber of Commerce

Morris County (NJ) Hispanic-American Chamber of Commerce

Motive Power Systems Inc.

Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association

Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Myrtle Beach Area (SC) Chamber of Commerce

Naperville Area (IL) Chamber of Commerce

NASDAQ OMX

Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

National Association of Manufacturers

National Christmas Tree Association

National Council of Agricultural Employers

National Council of Chain Restaurants

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

National Foreign Trade Council

National Grape Cooperative Association Inc.

National Immigration Forum

National Onion Association

National Potato Council

National Retail Federation

National Roofing Contractors Association

National Venture Capital Association

New England Apple Council

New Jersey Main Street Alliance

New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association

New York Farm Bureau

New York Technology Council

NewComLink

Nisei Farmers League

Nitero, Inc.

NM Association of Commerce & Industry

North American Blueberry Council

North Carolina Farm Bureau

North Carolina Nursery & Landscape Association

North Carolina Technology Association

North East Ohio International Business Network

Northeast Dairy Producers Association

Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce

Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce

Northumberland County (VA) Chamber of Commerce

OCZ Technology Group, Inc.

OFA – The Association of Horticulture Professionals

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Ohio Farm Bureau Federation

Ohio Nursery & Landscape Association

Ohio Venture Association

ON Semiconductor

OnShift, Inc.

Oracle

Oregon Association of Nurseries

Oregon Cherry Growers, Inc.

Oregon Farm Bureau

Outdoor Amusement Business Association, Inc.

Overland Park Chamber of Commerce

Overstock.com

Oxnard (CA) Chamber of Commerce

Packard Place

Palm Desert Area (CA) Chamber of Commerce

Paramount Citrus

Paramount Farming Company

Partnership for a New American Economy

Paymetric Inc.

Pennsylvania Farm Bureau

Permac Industries

Pokeware

Ponchatoula Chamber of Commerce

Preemptive Solutions

Prescott (AZ) Chamber of Commerce

Prime Time International

Produce Marketing Association

Producers Chemical Co.

Professional Landcare Network

PTV Sciences

Purple Leaf, LLC

Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce

Qualcomm

R&L Well Drilling LLC

Rackspace Hosting, Inc.

Rancho Cordova (CA) Chamber of Commerce

Retail Industry Leaders Association

Revolution

River Cities Capital Funds

Robert Mann Packaging, Inc.

Rogers-Lowell Area (AR) Chamber of Commerce

Rollins, Inc.

Rothman Institute of Entrepreneurship

S3 Ventures, LLC

SailPoint Technologies, Inc.

Salt Lake (UT) Chamber

San Antonio (TX) Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

San Diego County Farm Bureau

San Francisco Chamber of Commerce

Santa Clara (CA) Chamber of Commerce and Convention-Visitors Bureau

Santa Clara University

Schuylkill (PA) Chamber of Commerce

Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International

Semiconductor Industry Association

Signature Landscape Inc.

Silicon Valley Bank

Silicon Valley Leadership Group

Society for Human Resource Management

Society of American Florists

South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

South Carolina Farm Bureau

South Metro Denver Chamber

Sports Tutor, Inc.

St. Louis (MO) Regional Chamber

State Agriculture and Rural Leaders

Statewide Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce (NJ)

Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NJ)

StepLeader

Sun-Maid Growers of California

Sunshine Hope

Surplus Service

SV Angel

Sweet Potato Council of California

Sylvatex

Symantec

Synopsys, Inc.

TechAmerica

TechNet

Technology Association of Oregon

Technology CEO Council

Telecommunications Industry Association

Tempe (AZ) Chamber of Commerce

Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Tennessee Farm Bureau

Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition

Texas Association of Business

Texas Farm Bureau

Texas Instruments Incorporated

Texas International Produce Association

Texas Nursery & Landscape Association

The Business Council of New York State, Inc.

The Center for APA Women

The Chamber of Reno, Sparks, and Northern Nevada

The Internet Association

The MIDJersey Chamber of Commerce

The National Grange

The New England Council

The Partnership for a New American Economy

The Shurtleff Group

The Technology Association of Georgia

Tompkins County (NY) Chamber of Commerce

TransPak, Inc.

TransPremier LLC

Trimble Navigation

Tucson (AZ) Hispanic Chamber

Tucson (AZ) Metro Chamber of Commerce

Tulsa (OK) Regional Chamber

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Travel Association

Uesugi Farms, Inc.

Ugaldes Restaurant

United Dairymen of Arizona

United Fresh Produce Association

UnitedAg

Valley Industry & Commerce Association

Ventura County Agricultural Association

Venture Investors LLC

Vessey & Company, Inc.

Vida Capital Inc.

Virgin America

Virginia Chamber of Commerce

Virginia Christmas Tree Growers Association

Virginia Farm Bureau

Virginia Green Industry Council

Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association

Washington Farm Bureau

Washington Growers League

Washington Laboratories and American Certification Body

Washington State Dairy Federation

Washington Technology Industry Association

Welch Foods Inc.

West Coast Mennonite Central Committee

Western Agricultural Processors Association

Western Digital Corporation

Western Growers

Willits & Newcomb, Inc.

Wine Institute

Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

Woodrow Engineering Company

Woolley Engineering Research Corp.

XTn Group, LLC

Yahoo!

Yelp

Yuma Fresh Vegetable Association

Zacarias Actuarial Consultants, Inc

Zachry Holdings

SOURCE TechNet