‘Critical’ the Senate Take Up the Farm Workforce Modernization Act for Immediate Consideration
SCHODACK LANDING, NY – Today, UFW President Teresa Romero, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Congressman Antonio Delgado (D-NY), farm workers and farm owners met to discuss the importance of passing the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. The meeting took place at a dairy farm in Schodack Landing, New York.
The bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act passed the House more than three months ago on a 247 to 174 vote, including 30 Republicans. It is the result of months of intense negotiations between lawmakers from both parties, the United Farm Workers, UFW Foundation, Farmworker Justice, and most of the nation’s major grower associations.
Izaias Santiz, a 19-year-old farm worker from Lyndonville, NY, has worked in the dairy industry for 3 years and has a family who also works in the dairy industry. Santiz wants to be able to reunite with his family and continue to be able to provide.
Mayer Garcia, a 21-year-old farm worker from Lyndonville, NY, works in the dairy industry. Garcia wishes to have a legal path that would allow him to visit his loved ones from his home country.
“Farm workers work in dangerous conditions to feed this country,” said United Farm Worker President Teresa Romero. “They do not ask if they are feeding Republicans or Democrats. They make sure we all have food, even in the midst of the most uncertain times. Farm workers Mayer and Izaias have earned a path forward with the Farm Workforce Modernization Act. Farm workers are at the core of our food supply — we must protect the essential frontline agricultural workers. It’s critical that the Senate take up the Farm Workforce Modernization Act for immediate consideration.”
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