By A Colleague
Wed, Sep 21, 2022 5:36 p.m.
usda seeks input on new grant program to strengthen food supply chain, reduce irregular migration and improve working conditions for farmworkers
As an owner of farmland in Kansas, I get announcements from the usda. This one asks for input on farm workers, a topic which touches on immigration. However, there is no room in the proceedings for comment from the general public. Employers speak on the 28th, unions speak on the afternoon of the 28th and on the 29th, and farm worker advocates speak on the 29th.
Since illegal immigration affects all citizens, and farm employment affects illegal immigration, I would think this would be of general interest to the public. I will make written comments as described below, insisting on E-Verify for all employees.
-----Original Message-----
From: USDA in Kansas <usdafarmers@public.govdelivery.com>
Sent: Wed, Sep 21, 2022 3:32 p.m.
usda seeks input on new grant program to strengthen food supply chain, reduce irregular migration and improve working conditions for farmworkers
USDA Seeks Input on New Grant Program to Strengthen Food Supply Chain, Reduce Irregular Migration and Improve Working Conditions for Farmworkers | FSA will hold three virtual listening sessions September 28 and 29. |
| |  | | Farm Service Agency, Kansas State Office - September 21, 2022 | | | | |  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is gathering input to help shape a recently announced planned grant program focused on improving the resiliency of our food and agricultural supply chain by addressing labor shortages in agriculture, reducing irregular migration through increased use of legal pathways, and improving labor protections for farmworkers. USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) will hold three virtual listening sessions on Sept. 28-29 for the new farm labor stabilization and protection pilot grant program, which the Biden-Harris administration announced earlier this year as part of the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. The grant program will use up to $65 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to provide support for agricultural employers in implementing robust labor standards to promote a safe, healthy work environment for both U.S. workers and workers hired from northern Central American countries under the seasonal H-2A visa program. More on the Grant Program The program will aim to improve the resiliency of our food and agricultural supply chain and advance several major Administration priorities: - Driving U.S. economic recovery and safeguarding domestic food security by addressing current labor shortages in agriculture. Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, agricultural employers were struggling to secure a stable workforce. The pandemic has only exacerbated this problem, threatening our domestic capacity to produce a safe and robust food supply. This pilot program will help address this shortage by expanding the potential pool of workers.
- Reducing irregular migration through the increased use of legal pathways. The Biden-Harris administration has taken numerous steps to address the elevated levels of irregular migration from Northern Central America. The H-2A visa program offers a lawful pathway for individuals from these countries to come to the United States to engage in temporary or seasonal agricultural work. An effective H-2A visa program is critical to the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain. This pilot program will aim to address challenges that both workers and employers face in utilizing the program.
- Improving working conditions for farmworkers. Strong and safe working conditions are critical to the resiliency of the food and agricultural supply chain. Through this pilot program, USDA will support efforts to improve working conditions for both U.S. and H-2A workers and ensure that H-2A workers are not subjected to unfair recruitment practices.
Agricultural Employer Organizations FSA will hold a listening session for agricultural employer organizations on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. ET. FSA seeks input on: - Challenges that employers face in securing a stable workforce.
- The set of incentives employers seek from USDA in order to improve their ability to hire workers from northern Central American countries under the seasonal H-2A visa program.
- The labor standards that will make meaningful progress towards ensuring a safer and fairer working environment for both domestic and H-2A farmworkers.
Labor Unions and Farmworker Advocacy Community FSA will hold a listening session for labor unions on Wednesday, Sept. 28 at 2 p.m. ET, and one for the broader farmworker advocacy community on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. ET. From both groups, FSA seeks input on: - Barriers or challenges faced by farmworkers, specifically those from northern Central American countries participating in the H-2A visa program.
- Recommendations to enhance farmworker protections and to increase farmworker awareness of resources and worker rights.
How to Attend | | | | Farm Service Agency
State Office
3600 Anderson Ave
Manhattan, KS 66503 Phone: 785-539-3531
| State Executive Director Dennis McKinney | State Executive Officer Lance Thompson | | | | | | | |
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1 comment:
If they do things any worse you could label it sabotage.
--GRA
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