WPC: No Justification For Slavery Bill In Washington Senate

Senate Bill 5693 was legislation that surprised many in the Washington Ag community this session.  The legislation introduced in Olympia has been referred to as the Slavery Bill, for its requirements that Washington farmers prove they are not using slave labor in their operations.

Pam Lewison with the Washington Policy Center said there was no justification for the introduction of this legislation.  She added those who claim SB 5693 only impacts overseas food supply networks are missing the true scope of the proposed legislation.

“Coffee is also touched upon as one of the parts of the Ag supply chain, that this bill would like to have monitored.  We don’t grow coffee in Washington state, however we do have a number of dairies in this state and we also have a great deal of fruit production, and both of those particular parts of the Ag economy will be heavily impacted by this.”

Lewison added SB 5693 puts Washington farmers in a no win situation.

“We’re talking about a group of people, by and large, that are hardworking compassionate people who want to see not just their success but the success of the people who work for them.”

SB 5693 stalled last week in the Senate, thus bringing its journey this session to an end.

However, union leaders have already said they plan to support the legislation in 2020.

Click Here to read SB 5693.

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