California Democrat Zoe Lofgren, is the new chair of the House Immigration Subcommittee.  She recently introduced legislation addressing the legal status of agricultural workers.  Paul Schlegel, American Farm Bureau Federation public policy managing director, says the bill provides a path to legalization for agricultural workers, as well as their spouses and minor children.

 

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“It’s one of the elements that everybody in agriculture recognizes we have to deal with if we’re going to help get a solution for our labor issue. So, it deals with the current workforce in agriculture and it changes their status from undocumented to legal.”

 

Farm Bureau supports the introduction of the bill, but Schlegel said it does not address the need for a guest worker program.

 

“The particular piece of legislation deals with one aspect of it, and it’s an important aspect, but the other critical component is coming up with a guest worker program that works for all of agriculture, and all commodities, all regions, all times of the year. There’s nothing in the bill about that. But, they know that, and they’re willing to start working with people to see what they can put together on a guest worker program.”

 

Schlegel added its vital that farmers and ranchers should contact their members of Congress to let them know that Ag labor issues need to be addressed.

 

 

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