Senator Patrick Leahy is hailing legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama on Friday that is expected to be key to a series of big economic investments in northern Vermont.

Gov. Jim Douglas will lead a delegation of Vermont businesses to Asia this fall to try to drum up investments.

Several Vermont businesses say they've been able to expand and add jobs by relying on capital from foreign investors. But they say ready access to that money could dry up unless Congress reauthorizes a special immigration program that encourages such investment.