Courtney Votes To Pass Farm Workforce Modernization Act

Statement

Today, Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) voted to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 5038), a bipartisan bill that seeks to address the growing labor crisis in the agriculture industry by creating a new pathway to legal status for undocumented citizens working in the U.S. agriculture industry. Due to the diminishing supply of U.S. workers participating in farm labor, American farmers are increasingly reliant upon foreign workers to meet labor demands. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act will help to stabilize the agriculture sector and preserve rural heritage by ensuring that farmers can meet their labor needs well into the future. H.R. 5038 represents the first major agriculture labor reform since 1986.

"Eastern Connecticut is home to some of the most productive dairy farms in the country -- it's part of our heritage in New England," said Congressman Courtney. "Shortages in labor availability for them can cause ripple effects across our entire economy, and only serves to increase America's reliance on foreign food. We've got to find more ways to work together to get things done in Washington, and the Farm Workforce Modernization Act is another example of the critical work we can accomplish here to help solve the real problems facing our agriculture industry. On behalf of Connecticut's hard-working dairy farmers, I was proud to help pass this bipartisan bill."

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