Newhouse: Keeping Momentum Behind Workforce Act Proving Challenging

It’s been over three decades the last time Ag labor laws saw major changes in the U.S. Many had hoped that streak would come to an end after the Workforce Modernization Act Cleared the House to wrap up 2019.

Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse said when the legislation was sent to the Senate for consideration supporters looked to keep up the momentum the proposal gained in the House. However, Newhouse said that’s been very difficult to do, not only because of the nature of politics, but coronavirus as well.

“Immigration type issues are always difficult in an election year, but now we have the pandemic on top of that, so that’s adding an extra challenge to us.”

Newhouse said he, co-author Zoe Lofgren, and many others on the House side have worked hard on the Workforce Modernization Act, and as he put it, they won’t let the Senate kill the proposal without paying it the attention its due.

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