News

New guest worker legislation to be introduced soon

A new ag guest-worker bill is being developed by Florida Congressman Ted Yoho, and farmers heard more about it at World Dairy Expo. 

The bill would create a five-year guest worker program with no touchbacks, assign the guest worker to a specific employer with the ability to change jobs, and utilize e-verify technology with quarterly check-ins for employees.

American Dairy Coalition CEO Laurie Fischer tells Brownfield she likes what she hears about the Yoho proposal so far. “We’re not talking about citizenship, we’re talking about the necessary needs of dairy farms to have the labor that we need to produce milk.”

Green Bay area dairy farmer Wayne Bradley employs around 11 foreign workers, and he is optimistic about the new proposal. “There have been some other programs presented in the past that seem like they never got very far, and it sounds like because we’ve got some support from both Republicans and Democrats, there’s a better chance this time of getting something passed.” Bradley also likes how the Congressman Yoho plan would allow for guest workers to have driver’s licenses.

The proposed bill would help dairy, processing, and packing plants that need year-round workers.  Draft language is under review with the House Legislative Council and is expected to be released soon.

Wisconsin State Representative Gary Tauchen says across the country, employees are the number one issue. “This piece of legislation is helpful. They’re still trying to refine it, so there’s still work to be done.”

Yoho’s aid Joshua Woodward discussed the proposed bill with dairy farmers and processors at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin Thursday.