The Georgia Senate Agriculture committee has approved a resolution urging Congress to allow states to administer their own version of the federal visa program that allows employers to bring in foreign workers for seasonal agricultural work.

Senate Resolution 715 also asks for year-round workers in the agriculture industry to be considered along with temporary workers.

The H-2A program is currently run by the Department of Labor, and the resolution argues the program would be better administered under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Pending legislation on this issue is currently in the U.S. House.

The state Senate bill now heads to the Rules committee, which will determine whether the full Senate will vote on the issue.

Tags: illegal immigration law, Georgia Immigration law, farm labor, H2A, H2A visa