Agriculture industry steps up pressure for Senate-passed immigration reform
Agriculture industry steps up pressure for Senate-passed immigration reform
WASHINGTON -- The agriculture industry will have to wait until the Senate returns to work April 24 to find out if lawmakers can pass comprehensive immigration reform and bring a viable and legal workforce.
But a wide variety of groups who rely on agricultural workers are not waiting for the vote. They are telling their members to call, write and visit members of Congress in their district offices during the two-week recess to send a clear message that reform must help agriculture -- an industry heavily dependent on an immigrant labor pool.
"Put a face on it, make it personal and tell it again and again," said Craig Regelbrugge, co-chair of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigrant Reform. There's a real labor shortage out there, he said, whether it has hurt last year's raisin and apple harvesting or this year's fruit tree pruning.
"We're ratcheting up our efforts," said Tim Chelling of Western Growers Association, which has been working on AgJOBS for 10 years and is now "doing anything and everything" to get comprehensive reform.
Everything looked rosy before the Senate recessed earlier this month. Sens. Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Chuck Hagel (R- NE) brokered a bipartisan compromise reform bill that included not only additional border security but also a comprehensive guest worker program and language resembling the widely supported AgJOBS bill. The agriculture industry and the nation watched as the news changed hour by hour on whether the Senate would vote on the hastily crafted compromise.
Soon after the compromise was announced, it appeared to unravel as details of the tiered system for undocumented workers were made public. It would categorize undocumented immigrants into three groups depending on how long they have been in the United States and place millions of people on the path toward citizenship.
Undocumented immigrants living in the United States for more than five years would pay a fine. People who entered the United States illegally two to five years ago would have to register and apply for a work visa. Illegal immigrants residing in the United States for less than two years would have to leave the country.
On April 7, the Senate left town failing to vote on immigration reform, blaming it on a procedural debate on the number of amendments that would be allowed on the bill. Democrats and the Republicans have been pointing fingers ever since trying to assign blame through partisan sniping. "It tells me they're still not ready, on a political standpoint, to deal with it," said Robert Guenther of United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association. On the other hand, the good news is that the agricultural worker portion of the bill survived in the compromise bill, he said.
"We remain in a great place," said Mr. Regelbrugge of the American Nursery & Landscape Association. "We have not been touched by the big controversy about the fate of the 11 million undocumented."
"The biggest question now is how and when the compromise will come to a vote," said Lee Mannering of the Produce Marketing Association, who said that the association has activated its grassroots supporters to urge members to talk to lawmakers during the spring recess.
In the meantime, the large rallies of immigration reform supporters -- particularly Hispanics -- may be sending a strong statement about the upcoming elections. "They are making a huge visual impact, and these are the folks doing the work," Mr. Mannering said.
When the Senate left town, there was a sense among some Congress watchers that the issue might be dead. But the well-organized rallies and the daily press reports criticizing the Republican-controlled House bill may put a new face on the debate.
Religious groups are also weighing in, saying they oppose any legislation resembling the House-passed Border Protection, Antiterrorism & Illegal Immigration Control bill that would criminalize undocumented immigrants. Catholic organizations are calling for an immigration bill that includes an earned legalization program for the undocumented workers currently in the United States and a temporary worker program for foreign-born workers.
The House bill is not good for agriculture and not good for business because it makes everyone a felon, said Mr. Guenther, who added that it is difficult to predict whether the Senate would act when it reconvenes.
Some lawmakers who voted for the enforcement-only bill appear to be showing "buyers remorse," said Mr. Regelbrugge. "That's not a bad thing because there's a lot of bad ideas in that bill."
Mr. Regelbrugge, who called himself an eternal optimist, predicted the Senate would return to vote on immigration reform.
One possibility is that the Senate may vote but postpone final action on an immigration reform bill until after the elections by convening a lame-duck session, said Mr. Guenther.
One thing is certain, though: If nothing passes this year, agriculture -- including the fruit and vegetable industry - - will be under a huge spotlight. Growers will need to continue abiding by the law as best they can.
"There will be pressure on agriculture to find a legal, viable workforce. We are on the front lines of this debate," said United's Mr. Guenther.
"We need a year-round guest worker program to keep U.S. agriculture here," said Mr. Mannering, who added that U.S. businesses may need to go offshore if they can't find a steady labor pool.
But a wide variety of groups who rely on agricultural workers are not waiting for the vote. They are telling their members to call, write and visit members of Congress in their district offices during the two-week recess to send a clear message that reform must help agriculture -- an industry heavily dependent on an immigrant labor pool.
"Put a face on it, make it personal and tell it again and again," said Craig Regelbrugge, co-chair of the Agriculture Coalition for Immigrant Reform. There's a real labor shortage out there, he said, whether it has hurt last year's raisin and apple harvesting or this year's fruit tree pruning.
"We're ratcheting up our efforts," said Tim Chelling of Western Growers Association, which has been working on AgJOBS for 10 years and is now "doing anything and everything" to get comprehensive reform.
Everything looked rosy before the Senate recessed earlier this month. Sens. Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Chuck Hagel (R- NE) brokered a bipartisan compromise reform bill that included not only additional border security but also a comprehensive guest worker program and language resembling the widely supported AgJOBS bill. The agriculture industry and the nation watched as the news changed hour by hour on whether the Senate would vote on the hastily crafted compromise.
Soon after the compromise was announced, it appeared to unravel as details of the tiered system for undocumented workers were made public. It would categorize undocumented immigrants into three groups depending on how long they have been in the United States and place millions of people on the path toward citizenship.
Undocumented immigrants living in the United States for more than five years would pay a fine. People who entered the United States illegally two to five years ago would have to register and apply for a work visa. Illegal immigrants residing in the United States for less than two years would have to leave the country.
On April 7, the Senate left town failing to vote on immigration reform, blaming it on a procedural debate on the number of amendments that would be allowed on the bill. Democrats and the Republicans have been pointing fingers ever since trying to assign blame through partisan sniping. "It tells me they're still not ready, on a political standpoint, to deal with it," said Robert Guenther of United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association. On the other hand, the good news is that the agricultural worker portion of the bill survived in the compromise bill, he said.
"We remain in a great place," said Mr. Regelbrugge of the American Nursery & Landscape Association. "We have not been touched by the big controversy about the fate of the 11 million undocumented."
"The biggest question now is how and when the compromise will come to a vote," said Lee Mannering of the Produce Marketing Association, who said that the association has activated its grassroots supporters to urge members to talk to lawmakers during the spring recess.
In the meantime, the large rallies of immigration reform supporters -- particularly Hispanics -- may be sending a strong statement about the upcoming elections. "They are making a huge visual impact, and these are the folks doing the work," Mr. Mannering said.
When the Senate left town, there was a sense among some Congress watchers that the issue might be dead. But the well-organized rallies and the daily press reports criticizing the Republican-controlled House bill may put a new face on the debate.
Religious groups are also weighing in, saying they oppose any legislation resembling the House-passed Border Protection, Antiterrorism & Illegal Immigration Control bill that would criminalize undocumented immigrants. Catholic organizations are calling for an immigration bill that includes an earned legalization program for the undocumented workers currently in the United States and a temporary worker program for foreign-born workers.
The House bill is not good for agriculture and not good for business because it makes everyone a felon, said Mr. Guenther, who added that it is difficult to predict whether the Senate would act when it reconvenes.
Some lawmakers who voted for the enforcement-only bill appear to be showing "buyers remorse," said Mr. Regelbrugge. "That's not a bad thing because there's a lot of bad ideas in that bill."
Mr. Regelbrugge, who called himself an eternal optimist, predicted the Senate would return to vote on immigration reform.
One possibility is that the Senate may vote but postpone final action on an immigration reform bill until after the elections by convening a lame-duck session, said Mr. Guenther.
One thing is certain, though: If nothing passes this year, agriculture -- including the fruit and vegetable industry - - will be under a huge spotlight. Growers will need to continue abiding by the law as best they can.
"There will be pressure on agriculture to find a legal, viable workforce. We are on the front lines of this debate," said United's Mr. Guenther.
"We need a year-round guest worker program to keep U.S. agriculture here," said Mr. Mannering, who added that U.S. businesses may need to go offshore if they can't find a steady labor pool.
