FWMA - What Now? Pt 1

From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with today’s Fruit Grower Report. Another year, another Congress … another Congress following another year without Senate passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. For some that’s a hard pill to swallow.

Before the year-end break last month, U.S. Representative Dan Newhouse sounded cautiously optimistic …

NEWHOUSE … “This is December 1st. We’ve got the rest of this term, through this month, until we get the final gavel sometime in the second or third week of December, so we’re still working hard and I have not given up at all.”

Now, new year-new Congress, answers are still needed for the Act and ag labor reform …

NEWHOUSE … “Well, the last thing you said, the need for labor reform is just as critical as ever. And so, my interest in getting this done is as high as it’s ever been.”

But the challenge, Newhouse says is being able to get enough bipartisan support in the Senate …

NEWHOUSE … “You’re right we did get it through the House, twice as a matter of fact, two Congresses in a row, and it continues to stall in the Senate. With the reason being given that, by many of my Senate colleagues, that while we have a crisis at the southern border, they just cannot see their way to be able to move forward and pass immigration-related legislation.

Tune in tomorrow for more on Representative Newhouse’s outlook and the frustrations felt in the ag workforce community.