Rep. John Duarte, R-Hughson, has joined colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reintroduce House Resolution 4319 — the Farm Workforce Modernization Act — with the aim of creating a workforce solution for the nation’s agriculture industry, one of the most critical sectors of the economy.
According to a congressional press release, the bill would
establish a program for workers in the U.S. (and their spouses and minor children) to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contribution to the U.S. ag economy.
Before winning his congressional seat in November, Duarte earned his living as a farmer. In addition to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, Duarte has reached across the aisle during his freshman term to co-sponsor the Dignity Act and the American Dream and Promise Act, both of which seek sensible immigration solutions, according to proponents.
“I know these people,” Duarte said in reference to farmworkers. “They’ve helped me build my company. They’re important to me. In our community, we’re challenged by so many families living in the shadows, and that’s wrong. They’re a part of our community, they’re a part of our economy and they’re trapped in the shadows. They wake up every day and do the hardest jobs, in the hottest area, just trying to make ends meet — and they can’t come out and be full members of the community? The Central Valley will be a much better place when we get immigration reform accomplished.”
Duarte joined Democrats Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28), and Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), along with Republicans David Valadao (CA-22), Dan Newhouse (WA-04) and Mike Simpson (ID-02) in reintroducing the legislation.
The bill, which passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support in 116th and 117th congresses, updates the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and is a compromise solution that provides needed stability for working families and farmworkers, proponents say.
“In the past few years, we’ve seen labor shortages contribute to high food prices,” said Lofgren, whose 18th district includes the fertile Salinas Valley. “ If it wasn’t obvious before, the pandemic made clear that our country’s agricultural workforce rules are in dire need of reform. … It’s well past time we get this legislation that serves the best interests of country to the president’s desk.”
Links to the Farm Workforce Modernization Act can be found within the online version of this story.
For online version:
To read H.R. 4319 in its entirety, click here.
To read a section-by-section outline of the bill, click here.
To read a two-page summary of the bill, click here.
State child trafficking bill advances
State Assemblymember Juan Alanis, R-Modesto, lauded the passage of Senate Bill 14, which would classify the trafficking of minors as a serious felony. The bill was authored by state Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield
“I’m grateful to Sen. Grove for not giving up the fight on this bill and pleased that we as a Committee were able to advance this bill forward,” said Alanis. “In my career as a law enforcement officer, I worked as a detective for crimes against children,” said Alanis. “I saw in graphic detail the effects that predators had on kids and their families. I saw the physical and mental trauma, as well as the panic, fear, and frustration on too many victims faces. All of them left a deep and lasting impression on me. I look forward to voting in support of this bill on the Assembly floor.”
The bill will now advance to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for consideration.
Community drought relief bill passes out of committee
State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, D-Jackson, announced that Senate Bill 470 unanimously passed in the Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committee. The bill seeks to establish the Urban Water Community Drought Relief program and the Small Community Drought Relief program within the Department of Water Resources.
“California's rural communities, including every corner of my district, have suffered immensely due to wildfires, and we must take proactive measures to protect them,” said Alvarado-Gil. “By investing in water infrastructure and wildfire defense mechanisms, we can safeguard these vulnerable communities from further unchecked fire activity.”
With the increasing threat of wildfires in rural communities, this bill allocates funding for water utility infrastructure projects, including fire hydrant coverage improvements, water distribution pipeline expansion, and increasing storage capacity.
