Progress expected on immigration reform as floral industry heads to Capitol Hill

From Society of American Florists:

Negotiations for immigration legislation are moving quickly on Capitol Hill, just as dozens of retailers, wholesalers and growers head to Washington, D.C., for SAF's Congressional Action Days ready to give the floral industry perspective on the issue.

“A comprehensive immigration package appears to be nearing completion in the Senate," said SAF’s Lin Schmale, senior director of government relations. “Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) are leading negotiations on the segment of the bill relating to agriculture, and we hope that remaining issues can be resolved shortly."

“We absolutely want agriculture's specific interests to be included in the overall comprehensive bill, so the pressure is on," said Schmale. "However, we continue to have hopes that the good work carried out by the Agriculture Workforce Coalition (of which SAF is a member) will bear fruit."

SAF members attending Congressional Action Days will be advocating for an adjustment of status to allow agriculture to retain its current, experienced but unauthorized workers, and an uncapped Agricultural Worker Visa Program to ensure agriculture's future legal workforce. Read the information sheet they'll leave behind in congressional offices here.

The floral industry's position on immigration reform is one of four issues on the agenda for SAF's Congressional Action Days delegations' legislative appointments on Capitol Hill next week.

Along with immigration reform, attendees will be talking to lawmakers about the Farm Bil, access to capital for small businesses and charitable donations. You can read a copy of the leave-behind materials here:

• The Farm Bill
• Access to Capital
• Charitable Donations