FW: AgJOBS Update: Congress Members Announce Introduction of Bill

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-----Original Message-----

From: Bruce Goldstein [mailto:bgoldstein@...]

Sent: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 12:33 PM

fj@...

Subject: AgJOBS Update: Congress Members Announce Introduction of Bill

AgJOBS Update -- Farmworker Justice www.farmworkerjustice.org -- Jan.

10,

2007

Press Conference Announces Introduction of AgJOBS Bill in Senate and

House

Dear Friends,

Today, January 10, 2007, Senators and House Members, joined by the

United

Farm Workers President Arturo , National Council of La Raza

President Janet Murguia and representatives of agribusiness, held a

press

conference to announce the introduction of the AgJOBS farmworker

immigration

bill in both houses of Congress.

From the Senate, speakers included: Feinstein (D-Cali.), Craig

(R-Idaho)

Kennedy (D-Mass.), and Boxer (D.-Cal.). Other original cosponsors will

include Sen. Mel ez (R.-Fla.).

From the House, speakers included Rep. Berman, Rep. Radanovich

(R.-Calif.). Rep. Cannon (R.-Utah), could not be there but is

once

again an active supporter of AgJOBS.

In addition to Arturo and Janet Murguia, speakers were: Tony

Scully a farmer of pears in Lake County, CA, who was featured in a

front-page New York Times article about labor shortages that caused a

large

loss of crop last year; Henggeler, an Idaho apple grower and

packer,

and Chairman of the U.S. Apple Association.

The bill, which is named the Agricultural Job Opportunities, Benefits

and

Security Act of 2007, is being filed today and will be given bill

numbers.

(This is the 110th Congress and bills must be filed anew.). The

version of

AgJOBS introduced today is substantially the same as the version passed

last

year by the Senate, with some minor adjustments to the work

requirements.

We will be sending out a summary of the 2007 AgJOBS bill and will also

be

posting it on our webpage.

All the speakers discussed the need to move forward promptly in 2007 to

pass

AgJOBS, either as a stand-alone bill or as part of comprehensive

immigration

reform. They spoke about the impressively broad coalition of

organizations

and people that support AgJOBS. The press conference was very effective

and

we hope for good coverage in the media.

One important development that Rep. Adam Putnam (R.-Fla.), chair of the

Republican Policy Committee, and therefore a leader of the Republican

Party

in the House, has signed on as an original cosponsor of the bill. His

support increases

Several organizations sent statements in support of AgJOBS. These

include

Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PCUN), the National Farmworker

Alliance, and Farmworker Justice.

Farmworker Justice welcomes the reintroduction of AgJOBS and thanks

Senators

Kennedy, Feinstein and Craig, and other supporters of AgJOBS for their

efforts.

Message from Sen. Feinstein on what can you do to help pass

AgJOBS

Sen. Feinstein, who chaired the well-attended press conference, urged

AgJOBS

supporters to contact not only their own Senators and Representatives,

but

the leadership of both political parties in both bodies of Congress. We

will be sending out talking points that you may use when you call their

offices (but you could send a simple message stating that you urge

Congress

to pass the AgJOBS farmworker immigration legislation now). Contact

information for your Senators can be found at the following web address:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm .

Contact

information for your Representative can be found at the following web

address: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml .

When we know bill numbers and, later on, schedules for consideration of

AgJOBS, we will let you know. Thanks again. There are many reasons to

believe that AgJOBS can pass Congress in 2007 if the coalition remains

active. This press conference was a good kick-off to the campaign.

Bruce Goldstein

Executive Director

Farmworker Justice

1010 Vermont Ave., N.W., Suite 915

Washington, D.C. 20005

202-783-2628 ext. 203

www.farmworkerjustice.org

On about Jan. 18, we will relocate our office to

1126 16th St., N.W., Suite 270

Washington, D.C. 20036

Our phone numbers will also change.