On Thursday, June 30, at 1:00 pm MT/3:00 pm EST, the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, the Salt Lake Chamber, and the American Business Immigration Coalition will hold a press event calling attention to the urgency of fixing Utah’s and the nation’s extreme farm labor shortages by passing new Senate agriculture workforce solutions.
By addressing workforce shortages facing farm employers and stabilizing the H-2A visa application process, Congress can address inflation, lower food prices, ensure grocery store shelves remain stocked and enhance our national food security by protecting domestic agriculture production. Reform of our immigration and guest worker program is long overdue. Farmers and their employees need a system that provides long-term stability. It is time we find a solution that works for all.
In 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm Workforce Modernization Act with bipartisan support. That was a good start, but now in the Senate, Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Mike Bennet (D-CO) have taken the lead on negotiating much-needed improvements on the House’s solutions and moving the process forward. Passing new Senate legislation is critical to solving labor shortages facing Utah’s agriculture sector and sustaining the state’s economy as a whole.
WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE & ROUNDTABLE: Utah’s Labor Shortage, Agriculture, and Common-Sense Solutions
WHO:
- Bob Worsley, American Business Immigration Coalition Co-Chair, Former Republican Arizona State Senator; Founder ZenniHome, LLC
- Ron Gibson, President, Utah Farm Bureau Federation
- Derek Miller, President and CEO, Salt Lake Chamber
- Enrique Sanchez, Intermountain State Director, American Business Immigration Coalition
WHEN: Thursday, June 30, 1pm MT
WHERE: Schmidt’s Farm and Greenhouse, 9120 S. Redwood Road, West Jordan, Utah 84088
American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC) is a bipartisan coalition of over 1,200+ CEOs, business owners, and trade associations across 16 mostly red and purple states. ABIC promotes common sense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens.
Utah Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest voluntary organization of farmers and ranchers – but really, we consist of more than 34,000 member families committed to protecting Utah’s farms and ranches, and ensuring a safe, fresh and locally grown food supply. Our members live in all of Utah’s 29 counties and belong to county Farm Bureaus, which, in turn, comprise the Utah Farm Bureau Federation. Our mission is to inspire all Utah families to Connect, Succeed and Grow through the Miracle of Agriculture.©
The Salt Lake Chamber is Utah’s largest and longest-serving business association. A statewide chamber of commerce with members in all 29 Utah counties, the Chamber represents the broad interests of the state’s 63,000- plus employers, which employ more than 1.4 million Utahns. This includes thousands of Chamber members and their employees. With roots that date back to 1887, the Chamber stands as the voice of business, supports its members’ success and champions community prosperity.
