Newhouse: Ag Labor Discussion Can’t Be Lost In Current Immigration Talks
The multi-trillion dollar infrastructure bill being discussed in D.C. could impact the Ag labor debate, but perhaps not the way many in farm country expected. According to Representative Dan Newhouse, Chair of Western Caucus the reconciliation package includes language providing legal status for young people known as “Dreamers”, temporary protected status, as well as farm workers. Newhouse said granting this legal status to millions of Ag workers carte blanche across the board does not address the root of the problem.
“We’re going to turn around in a very short period of time and agriculture is still going to find itself without a legal workforce. This is exactly what happened in 1986. It kicks the can down the road, and I hate to use that worn out euphemism, but it really does. It does not address the root causes of what’s going on and what the problems are with our antiquated immigration system.”
Newhouse added he and many other lawmakers want to fix the Ag labor issue, and not use a Band-Aid so future generations can address it. He added because of the language in the reconciliation, lawmakers are asking why they are working on reforming the program if instant citizenship will be handed out.
“I’m hopeful that our efforts at Ag Labor improvements will not become a casualty of this large infrastructure reconciliation battle," Newhouse added. "So, that’s the conversations I’m engaging people with right now.”
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