Editor’s Note: As of press time, the immigration issue was in a state of flux in Washington, D.C.. The Senate was close to an agreement and President Bush was expressing support.

By PETER GREGG, pgregg@nyfb.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Immigration reform was heating up again in Washington last month, as farmers lobby Congress to pass reform measures this spring. A group of fruit growers, vegetable growers and dairy farmers visited the Capitol on May 16 as part of a nationwide “fly-in,” where farmers from around the country converged on the Hill to rally in support of agricultural immigration reform measures.

Comprehensive immigration reform is a critical priority for farmers across the country, and New York Farm Bureau has put the issue at the top of its agenda. As of press time in mid-May, negotiations were ongoing in the Senate regarding immigration reform legislation, according to Bob Hokanson, National Affairs Coordinator.

“The outcome of the negotiations is far from certain, and by the time that this article appears, the Senate may have approved its version of immigration legislation,” he said.

Hokanson said that the House of Representatives will not take up immigration until the issue has moved through the Senate. The House will then formulate and debate their version.

Farm Bureau continues to advocate that immigration legislation should provide members with a legal, willing, affordable, and adequate supply of farm labor, as well as provide stability and security for the farm worker population.

“A stable, adequate, and legal workforce is important to New York farmers in order to ensure that our farms can continue to supply locally grown, safe, and healthy foods for consumers,” Hokanson said. Hokanson said that any agricultural guest worker program must reflect the following key elements:

The program should provide immediate short-term stability, as well as long-term availability of labor for the agriculture sector. It is imperative that farmers not be exposed to short-term dislocations of the labor force. This is a critically important issue to farmers.

Any guestworker program must provide for year round workers as well as seasonal workers.

Any new or reformed visa program for agricultural workers must meet the realities of agriculture today. Thus, it should provide for a competitive, market-based wage; it should not promote litigation; it should not overly burden growers through housing, wage or other costs and the application process must not be bureaucratic or time consuming. Instead, it must be responsive and timely in assuring that farmers will have their workers when they need them.

Meanwhile, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who met with farmers during the May 16 Fly In, stressed that the issue is a priority.

“I have told representatives from New York Farm Bureau, and I just met with a group of farmers last week, that the AgJOBS Bill remains one of my highest priorities,” Clinton said on May 17.

Clinton said she has heard continually from farmers who are living with the uncertainty about their labor force and the enforcement of labor and immigration laws.

“There have been raids in areas of New York that have chilled this important part of the work force that our farmers rely on,” the senator said. “We hope to deal with a complete immigration reform bill within the next week.”

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., given his seat on the judiciary committee, will also be a key ally.

“Senator Schumer was extremely helpful to New York farmers last year during the immigration debate, inserting a key provision within the AgJobs portion of the Senate passed immigration bill that allowed dairy farmers access to a three year renewable visa for year round farm workers. We understand he is taking an active part in negotiations and expect his excellent representation of New York agriculture will continue,” said Julie Suarez, Public Policy Director at Farm Bureau.

On the House side, Rep. James Walsh, R-Onondaga, told the Syracuse Post Standard that the issue was hot.

“I’m told if there is no agreement within the next 24 hours, there won’t be an agreement,” Walsh said to the Post Standard in a May 17 story. “The Senate has to move first before the House can consider it. I think it has to be a comprehensive bill.”

Reps. Walsh; Thomas Reynolds, R-Clarence; John M. McHugh, R-Plattsburgy; and John R. “Randy” Kuhl, R-Hammondsport, are all co-sponsors in the House of the AgJobs bill.