Immigrant and guest workers

“I’ll reform the H-2A guest worker program through the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, creating real pathways to legal status for the immigrant farmworkers who harvest our food while streamlining a visa system that currently leaves family farms in limbo every season.”

“Give agriculture the stable, legal workforce it needs to keep food affordable. Labor shortages on cow-calf operations, farms, and dairies drive up the cost of producing food, and those costs land on Kansas families at the checkout line. Congress must reform the broken H-2A guest-worker program — permitting year-round visas that reflect modern needs, lowering compliance costs, and giving existing workers a path to legal status.”

“Support a strong agricultural workforce: Expand workforce development to train new workers in the industry, support farmer-to-farmer programs, and help farmers and ranchers lower food costs for Americans by responsibly hiring migrant workers when they can’t find Americans to fill their jobs — including by simplifying the H-2A visa program application and ensuring strong labor standards on those visas so that employers do not game the system to displace American workers and suppress their wages.”

“I’ll reform the H-2A guest worker program through the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, creating real pathways to legal status for the immigrant farmworkers who harvest our food while streamlining a visa system that currently leaves family farms in limbo every season.”

“Give agriculture the stable, legal workforce it needs to keep food affordable. Labor shortages on cow-calf operations, farms, and dairies drive up the cost of producing food, and those costs land on Kansas families at the checkout line. Congress must reform the broken H-2A guest-worker program — permitting year-round visas that reflect modern needs, lowering compliance costs, and giving existing workers a path to legal status.”

“Create pathways to legalization for certain undocumented immigrants: Create a path to citizenship for the immigrants who have been here the longest and certain groups like spouses and DREAMers, while allowing those who recently arrived to apply for temporary work permits if they are filling a job that will help lower costs for Americans.”

“When corporations started replacing Maine loggers with cheap foreign labor, Troy did not just complain about it. Troy helped lead the 1998 logging blockade at the Canadian border that forced the state to pay attention.”

“A bill from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, to protect Maine trucking jobs became law without the governor’s signature Friday, June 18. LD 188, “An Act Regarding the Transportation of Products in the Forest Products Industry” would fine large landowners and the offending motor carrier for failing to follow federal cabotage.”

“President Jackson has repeatedly sought action on both the state and federal level to end this unlawful practice and hold violators accountable. He even brought Gov. Paul LePage up to Fort Kent to hear directly from the affected truckers in 2017. In the Maine Legislature, President Jackson has introduced several pieces of legislation to protect Maine trucking jobs and penalize offending companies for breaking the law, including a new state law that takes effect October 18. In addition, he has written to the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Homeland Security, the Secretary of State and the Department of Labor. Last summer, he filed a complaint against the Department of Labor for failing to enforce federal cabotage laws.”

“On Monday, Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) for repeatedly failing to enforce H2A immigration law with regard to the practice of cabotage by Canadian H2A workers in Maine’s logging and trucking industry.”

“This isn’t about the Canadians; it’s about the U.S. allowing companies to violate the law and leaving American workers to pay the price. I am asking the department something very simple: enforce the law and protect logging and trucking jobs for hard-working people in our state.”

“Earlier this year, Jackson introduced a bill to hold landowners who participate in this practice accountable.”

“All this bill does is ask large landowners to do the bare minimum: follow federal cabotage law, recognize the abuse of the H-2A visa program and give Maine workers the fair shot they deserve.”

“Despite initial strong bipartisan support, Senate Republicans flipped their vote to reject “Hire Maine” legislation and sustain the governor’s veto. The bill – LD 268, “An Act To Create a Credit under the Commercial Forestry Excise Tax for Landowners Using Businesses Based in the United States,” – from Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, sought to incentivize the hiring of Maine workers over cheaper Canadian labor in the Maine woods.”

“Improve standards on guest worker visas: Ensure strong labor standards on guest worker visas and crack down on employers who game the system to exploit immigrants or displace American workers and suppress their wages.”

“Reduce labor shortages and bring down costs with smart immigration policies that don’t harm American workers: Make it easier for small businesses to hire migrant workers in sectors like housing construction and agriculture to reduce labor shortages, address supply chain issues, and lower costs. Ensure strong labor standards on those visas and crack down on employers who game the system to displace American workers or suppress their wages.”

“Support a strong agricultural workforce: Expand workforce development to train new workers in the industry, support farmer-to-farmer programs, and help farmers and ranchers lower food costs for Americans by responsibly hiring migrant workers when they can’t find Americans to fill their jobs — including by simplifying the H-2A visa program application and ensuring strong labor standards on those visas so that employers do not game the system to displace American workers and suppress their wages.”

“Create an employer sponsorship program focused specifically on lowering costs for Americans: Make it easier for businesses (particularly small businesses) to hire migrant workers in sectors like housing construction and agriculture to reduce labor shortages, address supply chain issues, and lower inflation.”

“Reduce labor shortages and bring down costs with smart immigration policies that don’t harm American workers: Make it easier for small businesses to hire migrant workers in sectors like housing construction and agriculture to reduce labor shortages, address supply chain issues, and lower costs. Ensure strong labor standards on those visas and crack down on employers who game the system to displace American workers or suppress their wages.”

“Improve standards on guest worker visas: Ensure strong labor standards on guest worker visas and crack down on employers who game the system to exploit immigrants or displace American workers and suppress their wages.”

“Require E-Verify nationwide”

“Supports South Carolina’s farms, businesses, and workforce”