immigration reform

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, .

Representative Ted Yoho, a Florida Republican, is working on an agricultural guest worker reform bill, he calls the Agricultural Guest worker Proposal.  He said his legislation differs from the Farm Workforce Modernization Act recently introduced by Central Washington’s Dan Newhouse and California’s Zoe Lofgren.   Yoho sa...

On Monday, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue sat down with his counterpart from Mexico.  And as Rod Bain points out, immigration was the #1 topic of discussion.     The visit between the Ag secretaries was just one of several meetings between U.S. and Mexican...

While the American Farm Bureau was pleased that President Trump put forth a proposal on fixing the nation’s immigration system, they say proposals aren’t going to solve the problem.   AFB President Zippy Duvall said, “Nowhere is immigration reform more critical than in the Ag sector. Labor shortages are h...

The President of the American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on Congress to create a guest worker program for agriculture.  In an editorial in the L.A. Times, Zippy Duvall said the U.S. has a farm labor shortage.   AFBF welcomed legislation recently introduced by California Democrat, U.S. Representat...

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.   “...

Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy is a supporter of President Trump, but not where building a border wall is concerned.   Bundy, who along with his sons became famous their armed standoffs with the federal government, told The Guardian Wednesday that the wall isn't likely to do any good.  Bundy s...

So much attention in Washington D.C. has been over the 2018 Farm Bill, and getting that piece of legislation approved and on to the President by the end of the month.  But, another important topic is waiting in the wings in D.C., and that’s addressing Ag labor needs.   R...

Freedom Caucus members have yet to submit unison support for the House farm bill. The House set a revote deadline for this Friday when the farm bill failed because Democrats and the Freedom Caucus Republicans voted against the measure.   Now, Bloomberg reports some members have not voiced support for the farm bill, including Virginia Republican David Brat, who says “I’m not there yet.” Brat would

Many in the Ag community say the H2A process is not helpfully meeting their needs.  Growers say the paperwork is slow and cumbersome.  That is why the Labor Department, USDA and Department of Homeland Security recently announced efforts to streamline the H2A process at the federal level.   ...