AmericanHort welcomes Farm Workforce Modernization Act

On Oct. 30, AmericanHort Senior Vice President Craig Regelbrugge released the following statement upon House introduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

"AmericanHort congratulates our House champions on today’s introduction. This bipartisan compromise advances an important debate and provides a platform for serious consideration of urgently needed reforms addressing the agricultural sector and farm employees," said Regelbrugge.

"What happens on the farm doesn’t stay on the farm; the work contributions of each farm worker create and sustain two to three job opportunities in the surrounding economy. Rural areas across the country benefit from the jobs and economic opportunity that farm workers create, so long as we are growing and producing labor-intensive crops and commodities here in America. We urge both the House and Senate to move swiftly to advance and improve upon this important legislative foundation."

Background
Labor challenges are the single-biggest constraint on the stability, success and growth potential of nursery and greenhouse growers across the U.S. The bill seeks to address the challenge head-on, with solutions that stabilize the current agricultural and horticultural workforce, improve the legal channels for future seasonal and permanent workers in the farming sector, and advance integrity in the hiring process.

As a member of the agriculture industry’s negotiating team, AmericanHort extends appreciation to all who worked on a bipartisan basis to tackle a complex and controversial issue. A summary of the legislation can be found here.