Lofgren Files Resolution to Overturn Labor Department Rule Targeting Farmworkers' Wages
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval against the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)'s recent rule regarding Adverse Effect Wage Rates for H-2A workers. The DOL failed to provide a notice-and-comment period for the rule as required by the Administrative Procedure Act. Original co-sponsors of Lofgren's resolution include Reps. Mark Pocan (WI-02), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and Ilhan Omar (MN-05).
"We have a well-crafted plan to reform America's H-2A program in the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act I introduced," Rep. Lofgren said. "Yet Trump's Labor Department decided to just act unilaterally and issue this rule without the proper comment period required by the Administrative Procedure Act. H-2A reform is necessary, but it needs to happen through a legislative process that includes consensus among stakeholders, not through this misguided, illegal administrative route."
Rep. Lofgren's resolution has the support of organizations including Agricultural Justice Project, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Campesinos Sin Fronteras, Casa Azul de Wilson, Centro de los Derechos del Migrante, Inc. (CDM), Economic Policy Institute, Farmworker Justice, the Guatemalan Maya Center, Inc., Justice for Migrant Women, Legal Aid Justice Center, Migrant Clinicians Network, National Immigration Law Center, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), United Farm Workers (UFW), UFW Foundation, and We are CASA.
“Across the country, farm workers including U.S. citizens are already suffering the direct and indirect impacts of Trump’s illegal wage cut," said Teresa Romero, President of the United Farm Workers. "Smaller paychecks for the same work and greater competition with foreign guest workers who are cheaper than ever to hire. President Trump’s callous disregard for proper procedure and rule making process is having real world consequences for some of the hardest working people in America. We proudly support Rep. Lofgren’s holding the administration to account and fighting to reverse this illegal rule and restore fairer wages to farm workers.”
“The UFW Foundation is proud to stand with Representative Lofgren as she introduces this CRA to protect farm worker wages,” said Erica Lomeli Corcoran, Chief Executive Officer of the UFW Foundation. “The farm workers who feed all of us should be able to also feed themselves and their families with the wages they make. Instead, this administration is unlawfully cutting their wages and transferring billions from workers to employers. We need to do what is right for our farm workers and stop these wage cuts.”
UFW and UFW Foundation are challenging this rule in court, and a hearing on a preliminary injunction took place on March 18. The text of Rep. Lofgren's resolution can be found here.
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