Newhouse: Ag Labor Reform Stalled In Senate

Ag Labor remains one of the chief concerns for the farming community, not only due to increasing costs, but limited availability in 2022. Dan Newhouse, chair of Western Caucus said unfortunately, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which has already cleared the House is stalled in the Senate. He said they continue to work with counterparts in the Senate to elevate the level of urgency to encourage action.

“There’s, I think, a growing amount of support for doing something.  People recognized the urgency in our agricultural industry for labor, in most parts of the country, not all.  We’re just not at that sweet spot yet where we can get a bill to the floor of the Senate.”

Newhouse stressed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act looks to reform the H-2A program, which he said would address many issues the farming community is facing when it comes to the U.S. Mexico border.

“We’ve had a very hard time with the Department of Labor allowing H-2A workers who have visas working through the Department of Homeland Security to be able to come in, go to work, and get vaccinated at the responsibility of their employers.  They will not allow us to do that, as they did last year.  They allowed that program to happen last year, which is very frustrating.”

Newhouse pointed out the vaccination process last year was very successful and should be used again this year. He added farm workers are critical and are needed to produce the food and fiber that Americans and the world need and expect.

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