ASHLAND- State business leaders, including those from the Nebraska, Omaha, and Lincoln Chambers of Commerce, called on the state's all-Republican congressional delegation during the most recent Federal Legislative Summit to consider small immigration reforms to bolster Nebraska's waning workforce. "What we're trying to do is lay out that failure is actually the only not acceptable option," said Christine Scullion, executive director of government affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, during the event, adding that an all-hands approach to supplying workers may be key in providing the state with more workers.

Scullion told the delegation that the U.S. Chamber would no longer be supporting a comprehensive immigration reform bill, which is likely not going to pass in Congress, and will instead seek incremental bills addressing flaws in the nation's immigration system. Scullion pointed to several of these small immigration issues during her speech, and recommended that Congress start providing more specialty visas each year to ensure that talent from other countries is able to enter the U.S. and bolster the workforce.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, as well as the other Nebraska representatives present at the event, seemed to be receptive to the recommendations. Fischer said that she agrees with the incremental approach to immigration reform, and that she prefers splitting up politically-contentious bills to gain bipartisan support. All Nebraska representatives, however, also stressed the importance of border control, but Rep. Adrian Smith said he believes his largely-rural district might be open to reform so long as the federal government ensures that the border remains strong.

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