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Colorado’s business, faith, conservative leaders travel to D.C.

Summit Daily staff report

Colorado leaders flying to Washington, D.C. for immigration reform:

• Bonnie Peterson, executive director, Club 20

• Keith Kanemoto, 2013 president, Colorado Realtors Association

• Brent Boydston, vice president of public policy, Colorado Farm Bureau

• Mike Mitchell, executive board member, Colorado Farm Bureau

• Jeff Wasden, executive board member, South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce

• Patrick Pratt, director of pubic policy, South Metro Chamber of Commerce

• Warren Klug, Aspen Square Hotel

• Jonathan Alfonseca, director, Thomas Garage

• Neil Alvarado, owner, StraightLine Communications

• Greg Baldwin, CEO, Baxa Corporation

• Danny Garrido, senior pastor, The Crossing Church

• Joshua Guajardo, Iglesia Roca Eterna

• Jeff Haanen, executive director, Denver Institute of Faith and Work

• Mark Hardacre, Landing Place Church

• Reid Hettich, pastor, Mosaic Church

• Joe Mendez, pastor, Templo Bethel Assembly of God

• Miriam Mendez, secretary, Templo Bethel Assembly of God

• Luis Villareal, Save our Youth Mentoring

• Patricio Serrano, pastor, Aliento De Vida

On Monday, Oct. 28, business, faith and conservative leaders from Colorado departed for Washington, D.C., to discuss the economic imperative of passing this year meaningful immigration reform.

The Colorado leaders are heading to Washington as part of the “Americans for Reform: Immigration Reform for our Economy, Faith, and Security” event, according to a Partnership for a New American Economy news release. The event is a joint effort being organized by the Partnership, Bibles Badges and Business, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and FWD.us.

The leaders, representing local chambers of commerce, institutions of faith and regional advocacy groups, including Club 20 of which Summit County is a member, plan to meet with key members of the Colorado congressional delegation and urge lawmakers to support bipartisan legislation that will strengthen America’s economy and create jobs.



“The purpose of this fly-in is to speak directly to our members of Congress and let them know that Colorado’s economy relies heavily on immigrant contributions, both high and low skilled,” said South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce board member Jeff Wasden in a release. “A reasonable solution to immigration reform that respects our nation’s laws and protects our national security will end uncertainty and allow Colorado’s economy to thrive.”

Local leaders will be touting passage of immigration reform legislation that incorporates several principles, including increasing access to high-skill visas, making low-skill, temporary visas easier to obtain, creating an employer “e-verify” verification process to ensure business owners follow the law without having to deal with unnecessary burdens and providing a solution for addressing currently undocumented immigrants, especially the children who have grown up in America.



“It is important for us to find the right solution to address immigration in this country,” said Bonnie Peterson, executive director of Club 20, in the release. “This issue transcends nearly every industry and impacts our education, health care and safety networks in a negative and costly fashion.”


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