United and allied groups to hold immigration rally at U.S. capitol
United and allied groups to hold immigration rally at U.S. capitol
The United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, the National Council of Agricultural Employers and the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform are organizing an Immigration Rally on Capitol Hill, scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, concurrent with United's annual Washington Public Policy Conference. The event will be the second Capitol Hill rally these organizations have coordinated this year to highlight to Congress the need for comprehensive immigration reform.
United's Washington conference will draw between 300 and 350 member company produce leaders from across the United States to advocate for produce issues such as adding fruits and vegetables to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children, building support for a new approach to farm bill policy, expanding the USDA Fruit & Vegetable School Snack Program and demanding comprehensive immigration reform.
"We're delighted to work again with NCAE and ACIR to magnify our voices before Congress on agriculture's urgent need to fix our broken immigration system," Robert Guenther, vice president of public policy for United, said in a statement.
Following the rally, participants will spend the afternoon educating members of Congress about the critical need for immigration reform to provide a legal and stable workforce. "Over the past two months, House members have engaged in field hearings all over the country," Mr. Guenther said. "Unfortunately, these hearings have not focused on the real issues and needs in agriculture and have failed to address the importance of a practical guest worker program, which is so vital to the agricultural community."
In addition to United leaders and agricultural allies, several members of Congress and allies from the general business community will participate in the rally on Capitol Hill.
"We're working closely with all sectors of the business community to show members of Congress the importance of completing their work on immigration reform this year. Any delay in action is a delay of congressional responsibility and a delay that means even more fresh produce will go unpicked in the fields across America," Mr. Guenther added.
United's Washington conference will draw between 300 and 350 member company produce leaders from across the United States to advocate for produce issues such as adding fruits and vegetables to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children, building support for a new approach to farm bill policy, expanding the USDA Fruit & Vegetable School Snack Program and demanding comprehensive immigration reform.
"We're delighted to work again with NCAE and ACIR to magnify our voices before Congress on agriculture's urgent need to fix our broken immigration system," Robert Guenther, vice president of public policy for United, said in a statement.
Following the rally, participants will spend the afternoon educating members of Congress about the critical need for immigration reform to provide a legal and stable workforce. "Over the past two months, House members have engaged in field hearings all over the country," Mr. Guenther said. "Unfortunately, these hearings have not focused on the real issues and needs in agriculture and have failed to address the importance of a practical guest worker program, which is so vital to the agricultural community."
In addition to United leaders and agricultural allies, several members of Congress and allies from the general business community will participate in the rally on Capitol Hill.
"We're working closely with all sectors of the business community to show members of Congress the importance of completing their work on immigration reform this year. Any delay in action is a delay of congressional responsibility and a delay that means even more fresh produce will go unpicked in the fields across America," Mr. Guenther added.
