AmericanHort Welcomes Farm Workforce Modernization Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 30, 2019

Tristan Daedalus
Director of Advocacy & Policy Communications
[email protected]
(202) 789-8113

AmericanHort Welcomes Farm Workforce Modernization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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.

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About AmericanHort

Green industry businesses perform better, grow faster and prepare for the future as a member of AmericanHort, the green industry’s leading association. With a rich history of serving horticultural professionals, AmericanHort supports nearly 14,000 member and affiliated businesses that include breeders, greenhouse and nursery growers, garden retailers, distributors, interior and exterior landscape professionals, florists, students, educators, researchers, manufacturers, and all of those who are part of the industry market chain. The horticulture industry’s production, wholesale, retail, and landscape service components have annual sales of $196 billion, and sustain over 1.6 million full- and part-time jobs.

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