Farm leader: 'We won't give up' on immigration reform

» June 28, 2007 «

Despite a setback in the U.S. Senate today, the leader of California's largest farm organization said family farmers and ranchers will continue to press for reform of the nation's immigration laws.

"We can't give up and we won't give up," California Farm Bureau Federation President Doug Mosebar said. "This is too important to farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and consumers."

Farm Bureau has been a key supporter of a measure known as AgJOBS, which would establish an improved temporary-worker program allowing people to enter the nation legally to fill on-farm jobs. The measure was included in the broader immigration-reform package that stalled in the Senate.

"Because immigration reform apparently won't move forward this year, family farmers and ranchers face another year under the threat that crops will go to waste because of a lack of hands to harvest them," Mosebar said. "It's a terrible shame."

Mosebar thanked California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer for voting to continue debate on the immigration bill, adding that Feinstein has been a "tireless champion" for farmers throughout the debate.

"No one wins under the current system," he said. "We must fix that system in order to assure that American consumers can continue to rely on safe, affordable, American-grown food and farm products.

"Farm Bureau remains committed to immigration reform that secures our borders while making sure that farms and ranches can hire the skilled people they need," Mosebar said.

The California Farm Bureau Federation works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of nearly 92,000 members.

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

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