DENVER -- The bill that sparked this week's controversial comments by Colorado Springs Representative Douglas Bruce was approved by a Senate Committee Thursday.

House Bill 1325 would help bring several thousand farm workers into Colorado from outside the country.

The pilot program would require workers to undergo background checks in their home country before coming to Colorado.

The workers would be required to register with the state and a part of their pay would be withheld until they arrive back in their homeland.

The bill prompted Representative Douglas Bruce of Colorado Springs to comment that the state "didn’t need 5,000 illiterate peasants."

He was chastised by members of both parties. Some called him a bigot.

The bills sponsors said the bill is not about immigration, but the economy.

Agriculture is a $16 Billion dollar a year industry in Colorado.