Ag businesses hope for relief in immigration reform bill
Ag businesses hope for relief in immigration reform bill
WASHINGTON -- The Senate's immigration reform bill would help the agriculture industry's labor crisis, but the trick will be keeping the compromise language alive.
"We are deeply appreciative that the Bush administration and leaders of the Senate understood the uniqueness of the agriculture industry and embraced that in the legislative approach," said Craig Regelbrugge of the American Nursery & Landscape Association.
The Border Security & Immigration Reform Act of 2007 -- brokered by Sens. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) -- would address future temporary worker programs and today's trained but undocumented workforce. It includes more resources on border security and new electronic verification requirements for employers to use to find eligible workers.
The bill includes some changes to AgJOBS with a back-of-the-line provision for undocumented workers pursuing green cards and a back-end, touch- back requirement - provisions that were designed to gain the approval of Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), said Mr. Regelbrugge, who is vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for his association.
"We fully support the agreement and plan to work as hard as we can to get it out of the Senate," said Autumn Veazey of the United Fresh Produce Association, who added that while it is not a perfect bill, it's workable. "Generally speaking, people recognize agriculture as having the biggest need," said Dan Whiting, spokesman for Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), a longtime advocate of AgJOBS. "They needed the workers yesterday."
Agriculture-based businesses need to ratchet up the noise in support of the compromise bill in order for it to pass this year, according to lobbyists. "Only one in 20 calls coming into the office is in favor of the bill," said Mr. Whiting. "We're all hearing it."
Advocates have had to fight back amendments in the Senate that would have slashed the number of visas for year-round temporary workers. Though it wouldn't affect the number of seasonal workers, "we still have members that rely on year-round temporary employees," said Ms. Veazey. Packers, processors and others need these workers, so the agriculture groups would oppose attempts to strip or reduce the 400,000 temporary guest workers allowed under the bill.
Supporters of the compromise bill are concerned about the message senators will be hearing when they return to their home states during the Memorial Day recess.
"I anticipate senators will get home and hear from the far left and the far right, who are unhappy with the compromise," said Ms. Veazey. Georgia senators were recently booed at a state Republican event for supporting the compromise bill.
Ms. Veazey said that the industry has to continue sending the message of why immigration reform is so badly needed.
Groups have launched grassroots campaigns, and coalitions are in daily contact on legislative strategy, she said.
"This will be a long and difficult road," said Mr. Regelbrugge. "But I think opponents have lost all credibility when every proposal is called amnesty."
Even if the bill survives the Senate, it is unclear the path the House of Representatives will take in considering an immigration reform measure. "If nothing happens, we will be looking at more raids, dislocation, labor shortages, and local and state laws filling the void for years to come," Mr. Regelbrugge said.
"We are deeply appreciative that the Bush administration and leaders of the Senate understood the uniqueness of the agriculture industry and embraced that in the legislative approach," said Craig Regelbrugge of the American Nursery & Landscape Association.
The Border Security & Immigration Reform Act of 2007 -- brokered by Sens. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) -- would address future temporary worker programs and today's trained but undocumented workforce. It includes more resources on border security and new electronic verification requirements for employers to use to find eligible workers.
The bill includes some changes to AgJOBS with a back-of-the-line provision for undocumented workers pursuing green cards and a back-end, touch- back requirement - provisions that were designed to gain the approval of Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), said Mr. Regelbrugge, who is vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs for his association.
"We fully support the agreement and plan to work as hard as we can to get it out of the Senate," said Autumn Veazey of the United Fresh Produce Association, who added that while it is not a perfect bill, it's workable. "Generally speaking, people recognize agriculture as having the biggest need," said Dan Whiting, spokesman for Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID), a longtime advocate of AgJOBS. "They needed the workers yesterday."
Agriculture-based businesses need to ratchet up the noise in support of the compromise bill in order for it to pass this year, according to lobbyists. "Only one in 20 calls coming into the office is in favor of the bill," said Mr. Whiting. "We're all hearing it."
Advocates have had to fight back amendments in the Senate that would have slashed the number of visas for year-round temporary workers. Though it wouldn't affect the number of seasonal workers, "we still have members that rely on year-round temporary employees," said Ms. Veazey. Packers, processors and others need these workers, so the agriculture groups would oppose attempts to strip or reduce the 400,000 temporary guest workers allowed under the bill.
Supporters of the compromise bill are concerned about the message senators will be hearing when they return to their home states during the Memorial Day recess.
"I anticipate senators will get home and hear from the far left and the far right, who are unhappy with the compromise," said Ms. Veazey. Georgia senators were recently booed at a state Republican event for supporting the compromise bill.
Ms. Veazey said that the industry has to continue sending the message of why immigration reform is so badly needed.
Groups have launched grassroots campaigns, and coalitions are in daily contact on legislative strategy, she said.
"This will be a long and difficult road," said Mr. Regelbrugge. "But I think opponents have lost all credibility when every proposal is called amnesty."
Even if the bill survives the Senate, it is unclear the path the House of Representatives will take in considering an immigration reform measure. "If nothing happens, we will be looking at more raids, dislocation, labor shortages, and local and state laws filling the void for years to come," Mr. Regelbrugge said.
