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Proposed changes to U.S. immigration laws are on hold after the U.S. Senate failed to pass two immigration reform amendments.

Last month the Senate rejected an amendment filed by Sens. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., that would have overhauled the temporary agricultural worker program known as H-2a. The Chambliss-Kyl amendment, supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), failed 21-77. Another proposal, known as AgJOBS, also failed.

John Wargowsky, OFBF’s director of labor services, said AFBF will continue to build support for the Chambliss-Kyl concept, which he said is expected to be presented as a separate bill later this year.

AFBF President Bob Stallman has said the Chambliss-Kyl legislation represents almost all of the immigration reform priorities established by AFBF’s members in January. He said the legislation dealt sensibly and fairly with some illegal immigrants working in agriculture.

The Chambliss-Kyl amendment would have eliminated the adverse effect wage rate (AEWR), which is the minimum wage rate for H-2a workers set by the Department of Labor. In Ohio, the AEWR is currently $9.20 per hour.

The amendment also would have streamlined the process of applying for workers and given some farm workers the chance to get permanent or temporary legal status in the United States.

"We want to allow our members to compete in the marketplace and recognize that some people without proper documentation need to get to legal status," Wargowsky said.