WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Kathy Hochul today spoke on the House floor about the need to help local farmers hire the workforce they need by urging Labor Secretary Hilda Solis to quickly implement reforms that would allow farmers to apply for H-2A visas online.
“The labor and innovation of America’s farmers puts food on the table, not just for families here at home, but for hungry people around the world. As our farmers bring their goods to market in the 21st century economy, they expect to have a 21st century government that will help, not hinder, their business,” said Congresswoman Hochul. “This summer, I was shocked to learn that one of my onion farms in Genesee County had to mail almost twenty pounds of paperwork to the federal government in order to participate in the H-2A visa program – there must be a better way. An online application system could save money for both our farmers and the taxpayers, and I urge the Secretary of Labor to swiftly implement this commonsense reform.”
Nearly all of New York’s 35,000 farms are family owned – making agricultural one of New York’s top small business industries. In fact, with a contribution of $4.7 billion dollars to the economy, New York farms are critical Western New York’s economy.
On Monday, Congresswoman Hochul sent a letter to Secretary Solis, urging her to modernize the H-2A visa program after hearing from local, Western New York farmers earlier this summer in a meeting with Deputy Labor Secretary Seth Harris.
A video of Congresswoman Hochul’s remarks from today are available for viewing on her YouTube page, right here.
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