Legislators Promote Industry Labor Reform

Two long-time champions of reforming America’s agricultural labor system spoke to nearly 100 industry leaders on a nationwide conference call in January.

Several leaders of national and state nursery and landscape associations participated. Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) and Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) stated their strong resolve to see the AgJOBS bills, S. 1645 and H.R.3142, enacted into law this year. As the lawmakers pointed out, these bills are the only immigration reform measures that already enjoy bipartisan support, and offer an incremental step toward solving the broader immigration problem referred to by President Bush in a recent White House announcement and in his State of the Union speech.

Craig and Cannon emphasized that H-2A users are staring at another mandatory wage increase in March, and that AgJOBS bills are the only political shot at relief that will put direct savings in the pockets of H-2A growers. They are seeking early Senate hearings, and urged growers and producers and related industries to stay focused on building support for these bills and raising the necessary funds to sustain a strong lobbying effort.

Click here for more information about the bills.