Jimmy Panetta: “I thank Chairwoman Lofgren for her amazing leadership on this bill. It is an honor to have her as a colleague. It is an…”

“I thank Chairwoman Lofgren for her amazing leadership on this bill. It is an honor to have her as a colleague. It is an honor to have her as my direct neighbor to the north in California. Madam Speaker, let me also take this time to thank Representative Dan Newhouse for his courage, his willingness to be bold on this bill was phenomenal. Let me thank both of their staffs for the amazing amount of work that they did on this bill. Madam Speaker, let me thank all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked on this bill, especially Fred Upton and the Problem Solvers Caucus, who are supporting this bill. This bill, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, is a step in the right direction for our agriculture, for immigration reform, and, yes, even this Congress. This bill would protect our existing ag workers, and it promotes an enduring ag workforce. This bill does that by allowing those who have worked in ag to stay working in ag and the opportunity to earn a pathway here in this country. It does that by modernizing an outdated system for temporary workers and adding 3-year visas for year-round workers. It does that by ensuring a number of visas, fair wages, a supply of housing, and safe working conditions. By passing this bill, finally, farmers will have access to a dependable and experienced workforce, and farmworkers will not get just the legality, but the dignity that they deserve.…”