Newhouse Ag Labor A Critical Issue For Lawmakers

The United States is dealing with an immigration crisis, and the agriculture community in many ways feels the most direct impact by decisions made, or not made in Washington D.C.  Conservative House Republicans say they want immigration reform addressed before they will vote on the House Farm Bill proposal.  Representative Dan Newhouse said while addressing DACA is important, he called addressing the Ag Labor shortage critical.

“Farms throughout Central Washington and really throughout the nation are finding themselves with a shortage of help.  Labor is short everywhere, which equates to a monetary loss of great amounts to individual farms as well as to the entire industry.”

Newhouse added lawmakers must look at ways to lighten the burden farmers face day in and day out.  Newhouse was recently asked why he did not join a growing discharge petition that would have moved existing legislation to the House floor for a debate, and possible vote.

“Because in my estimation the options of the discharge petition made available, none of them had enough support to actually get through the House, the Senate, and then had they done that, the President would not have signed.  So, it would have really ended up being a symbolic vote at most.”

Newhouse said leadership in both the House and Senate remain focused on addressing immigration reform before the August recess.

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