Two targeted immigration bills passed the US House of Representatives last week and will be moving on to the Senate where their future is uncertain. With strong support from California agriculture, the House passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act by a 247-174 vote. Thirty Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the bill. All Democrats from California voted yes while 2 Central California Republicans voted in favor – David Valadao and Devin Nunes. But Bakersfield’s Kevin McCarthy voted no, joining GOP congressman McClintock
Hailing the passage was the California Farm Bureau and an alliance of produce groups, 300 groups in all.The legislation creates a path to earn temporary status as Certified Agricultural Workers for people who have worked at least 180 days in agriculture over the past two years. Spouses and children could also apply for temporary status under the act.
The legislation would create a way for workers to get a green card by paying a $1,000 fine and engaging in additional agricultural work depending on how long they have worked in agriculture in the U.S.
The bill would also streamline the process to get an H-2A visa, which allows foreign citizens into the country for temporary agricultural work.
A second bill passed but with a slimmer majority allows so called” Dreamers” to stay in the US. Called the American Dream and Promise Act, it would provide a pathway to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, as well as others granted temporary protection from deportation. Farm groups supported this bill as well. All GOP House members from the state voted no except Kings congressman David Valadao. The measure passed 228 to 197, with nine Republicans voting in favor.
Asked why he wouldn’t support the bills Kevin McCarthy’s office said “The Congressman has strong reservations regarding this bill as introduced, and unfortunately, amendments to this bill will not be permitted which could have allowed some improvements. The Congressman will continue working toward a stronger immigration and visa system that includes a robust ag worker program, something that is very important to his constituents.”
Congressman Valadao released a statement. “As the son of immigrants and lifelong dairy farmer, I know firsthand how desperately our agriculture workforce needs meaningful reform. Many industries in the Central Valley rely heavily on immigrant labor. Our farm workers are absolutely critical to our collective mission of reliably feeding America, yet many live in fear due to an inability to gain legal status through our broken immigration system. Ensuring that our essential farm workers already in the states receive legal status, while also simplifying and streamlining the process for future flow of workers, is just common sense, and I am proud to be an original cosponsor on this very important legislation.”
