Build Back Better has the possibility of providing immigration reform for agriculture but an ag labor advocate says if nothing is done by March, midterm elections will overshadow ag labor needs of the industry.
Michael Marsh with the National Council of Ag Employers tells Brownfield the industry is waiting to see if the Senate parliamentarian includes immigration reform in the Build Back Better bill before legislation in the Farm Workforce Modernization Act can move forward.
In the meantime, he’s concerned about some updates to OSHA fines and penalties within the Migrant Seasonal Worker Protection Act and the Fair Labor Standards Act in Build Back Better which could but ag employers who depend on those workers out of business.
