Produce groups organize lobbying blitz on immigration reform
Produce groups organize lobbying blitz on immigration reform
WASHINGTON -- Past marches on Washington evoke visions of thousands of people carrying signs and shouting slogans, but the produce sector is hoping to carry a strong message to lawmakers when it rallies March 15 on Capitol Hill to lobby on the issue of immigration reform.
"I work on immigration reform every day, and we've had a good stream of people coming in for the last few months," said Robert Guenther, vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association. "But then produce groups thought, 'why don't we focus the entire ag community who are affected by immigration reform to come in for one day.' "
United is reaching out to the meat, wine, horse, dairy and nursery and landscaping sectors to organize its March on Capitol Hill to fight for a meaningful immigration reform measure for the agriculture industry. "The response has been very positive," Mr. Guenther said, adding that it was too early to estimate what the turnout will be.
Timing is critical, Mr. Guenther added, noting that the House has passed an immigration reform bill that is largely silent on agricultural worker issues, and the Senate is expected to take it up in the next few weeks.
The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled March 2 to take up legislation by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), which contains no agriculture provisions, and the Senate leadership is planning on pushing a bill to the Senate floor by March 27.
"Our message is that we want agriculture in the Senate bill," said Mr. Guenther. This means an immigration reform bill should include a viable guest worker program and make it clear what happens to undocumented workers already working here in the country.
To Western Growers Association, this is agriculture's last stand to influence a final immigration reform bill. "We only have a few weeks, and we need a strong immigration reform bill that includes a guest worker program and a program that deals with the people already here," said Western Growers Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Nassif.
Without a strong Senate bill that speaks for the agriculture community, the House-passed version would be devastating to fresh fruit and vegetable industry, Mr. Nassif said. More growers would move to Mexico and with them an entire support system of American jobs that depend on agriculture in the transportation, banking, refrigeration, fertilizer and other affiliated industries.
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association said that the House-passed bill, which calls for increased penalties on employers, electronic identification verification and no guest worker provisions, would cripple Florida's fruit and vegetable industry. FFVA is teaming with representatives from the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Florida Citrus Mutual and individual producers for the daylong legislative outreach.
"Our message has been that we absolutely must have a new guest worker program to help us harvest and pack our crops at the same time as stepped-up border enforcement," said United President Tom Stenzel. "One without the other is not acceptable unless Congress truly wants to see a catastrophe in the fruit and vegetable industry."
"We're not advocating one bill over another -- just that agriculture has an important voice in the debate," said Mr. Guenther.
"I work on immigration reform every day, and we've had a good stream of people coming in for the last few months," said Robert Guenther, vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association. "But then produce groups thought, 'why don't we focus the entire ag community who are affected by immigration reform to come in for one day.' "
United is reaching out to the meat, wine, horse, dairy and nursery and landscaping sectors to organize its March on Capitol Hill to fight for a meaningful immigration reform measure for the agriculture industry. "The response has been very positive," Mr. Guenther said, adding that it was too early to estimate what the turnout will be.
Timing is critical, Mr. Guenther added, noting that the House has passed an immigration reform bill that is largely silent on agricultural worker issues, and the Senate is expected to take it up in the next few weeks.
The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled March 2 to take up legislation by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), which contains no agriculture provisions, and the Senate leadership is planning on pushing a bill to the Senate floor by March 27.
"Our message is that we want agriculture in the Senate bill," said Mr. Guenther. This means an immigration reform bill should include a viable guest worker program and make it clear what happens to undocumented workers already working here in the country.
To Western Growers Association, this is agriculture's last stand to influence a final immigration reform bill. "We only have a few weeks, and we need a strong immigration reform bill that includes a guest worker program and a program that deals with the people already here," said Western Growers Association President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Nassif.
Without a strong Senate bill that speaks for the agriculture community, the House-passed version would be devastating to fresh fruit and vegetable industry, Mr. Nassif said. More growers would move to Mexico and with them an entire support system of American jobs that depend on agriculture in the transportation, banking, refrigeration, fertilizer and other affiliated industries.
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association said that the House-passed bill, which calls for increased penalties on employers, electronic identification verification and no guest worker provisions, would cripple Florida's fruit and vegetable industry. FFVA is teaming with representatives from the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Florida Citrus Mutual and individual producers for the daylong legislative outreach.
"Our message has been that we absolutely must have a new guest worker program to help us harvest and pack our crops at the same time as stepped-up border enforcement," said United President Tom Stenzel. "One without the other is not acceptable unless Congress truly wants to see a catastrophe in the fruit and vegetable industry."
"We're not advocating one bill over another -- just that agriculture has an important voice in the debate," said Mr. Guenther.
