Ag Labor Reform Update
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. Those in agriculture know that the need for ag labor reform has been a huge problem for several years.
But now, U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse believes that the employers out there have been sounding the alarm and enough lawmakers may now have received the message …
NEWHOUSE … “I think we absolutely have an opportunity here. You know, nothing is easy, especially, any time the word immigration is in any kind of legislation, it becomes very difficult. But I think that there are some potential opportunities coming up.”
And one in particular, Newhouse says appears to be getting some attention …
NEWHOUSE … “We do have this stand-alone bill, the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act, that’s a good piece of legislation. I think, on its own, it’s very strong and we’ll continue to advocate for that, but if there’s other opportunities to get something done, we’d certainly be looking for those as well.”
But this, Newhouse says is not an immigration bill …
NEWHOUSE … “Like I told you, if you use the word immigration, things all of the sudden get very difficult. This is not an immigration bill. It’s an ag labor reform bill that we’re trying to allow these people to come into the country legally, work, and then go back to their home countries when the work is done. You know, it’s as simple as that.”
The good news, Newhouse says is that more of his colleagues appear to understand what the ag workforce needs.
