Posted May 16, 2014
Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and the White
House continue their push for a vote on immigration reform in the U.S. House of
Representatives, according to an Agri-Pulse article available here.
Vilsack recently participated in a teleconference with
Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers, and Manuel Cunha,
president of the Nisei Farmers League, to “discuss the potential economic impact
of immigration reform in California.”
Vilsack said there are over 81,000 farms in California
that sell about $33.9 billion in agricultural products annually. “There’s no more important state to agriculture
than California,” Vilsack said. “Some
farms are no longer able to harvest their product because of a lack of
workforce.” An audio clip of Vilsack’s
comments is available here.
To get the bill moved to conference with the
Senate-passed legislation, S.
744, the House would need to vote on any immigration bill. The Senate bill would “allow undocumented
farm workers to become eligible for an immigrant visa status called a “blue
card.” Blue-card holders “could apply
for lawful permanent resident status after five years if they have continued to
work in agriculture, paid their taxes, and pay a fine.”
Rodriquez and Canhu called out Republican
Representative Kevin McCarthy, representing the San Joaquin Valley, “on his
lack of support so far for immigration reform,” according to an article by The
Packer available here. McCarthy is “majority whip for the House GOP,
the third ranking Republican in the House, and is responsible for gathering
support within the party for the legislation that will be voted on.”
Vilsack said the Senate immigration bill would increase
California farm income by $500 million.
Vilsack also said that immigration reform would create job growth, boost
Social Security revenue and reduce the national deficit, and called on House
leaders to “get something passed” so the issues can be put to rest after the
House and Senate bills are resolved in conference.
For more information on issues involving agricultural
labor, please visit the National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
