Bill Granting Farm Workers Legal Status Reintroduced in Senate
Washington, D.C.— Last week, Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) reintroduced the Affordable and Secure Food Act (ASFA) in the 118th Congress. This compromise legislation is the product of bipartisan negotiations and includes several employer and Republican priorities, while creating a pathway to citizenship for longstanding farm workers who are already present in the United States. The Affordable and Secure Food Act was first introduced in 2022 and is the Senate version of the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which passed in the House of Representatives in the 116th and 117th Congresses.
The Affordable and Secure Food Act is co-sponsored by Senators Stabenow (D-Mich.), Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Fetterman (D-Pa.), Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Durbin (D-Ill.), Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Welch (D-Vt.), and Hickenlooper (Colo.).
“For years, agricultural employers have been reporting agricultural labor shortages to Congress – this is Congress’ chance to solve that problem.” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “The farm workers who feed America have earned the right to stay in America – and any agricultural labor reform legislation must start by accepting this basic moral fact. The United Farm Workers thanks Senator Bennet for ensuring that the contributions of these essential immigrant workers will not be forgotten.
“We are pleased to see the reintroduction of the Affordable and Secure Food Act,” said UFW Foundation CEO Erica Lomeli Corcoran. “Farm workers have waited far too long for the right to stay in the nation they feed. The time is now for Congress to finally provide them the security they deserve. Farm workers help feed our families; the least we can do is protect their families. We thank Senator Bennet for his leadership and support to farm workers across our nation.”
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