Congressman Simpson's
Weekly Update

                  Week of November 13, 2019                   

Why Idaho Farmers Need Immigration Reform

By Congressman Mike Simpson

“My childhood was spent working on the farms and ranches of Southeastern Idaho. When a challenge arose, we fixed it. Hay needed hauled, pipe needed moved, heifers needed calved, and potatoes needed picked. Many years have passed, and while my days of hauling hay are long behind me, I still believe when you see a problem you must try and solve it. Those who feed this world need our help.

“Today, farmers struggle to find the workforce they need to survive. When I meet with dairymen and potato farmers, maintaining a legal workforce is always their number one issue. The H-2A program, which allows temporary foreign workers, has doubled since 2012. Ask a farmer and they will tell you this program is flawed, cumbersome, and bureaucratic. But, for Idaho’s family farmers, it is their only option. Even worse for dairy farmers, there is currently no option because there is not a year-round program available.

“The lack of a stable workforce to meet the growing demand for Idaho’s products, and a flawed process to grow our workforce, has created a labor crisis for Idaho’s agriculture community. That is why I recently joined a Congressional bipartisan coalition to assist Idaho’s agriculture community – a community that accounts for 20 percent of our state’s economy. For months I have been meeting with farmers and farmworkers in Idaho and across the country. Finding a solution has not been an easy process in the Democrat controlled House, but the American people are sick of seeing inaction from D.C. on this issue. If we want to fix this problem, it must be bipartisan to have a lasting impact. Fortunately for our farmers, and their families, Idaho had a seat at the table to help create this solution.

“President Trump called for merit-based immigration reform while avoiding amnesty. This bill accomplishes both.  For guest workers to obtain permanent legal status, and the ability to work, they must pay a thousand-dollar penalty and commit to future work in agriculture labor.  And there is no special treatment or pathway.

“The Farm Workforce Modernization Act (FWMA) accomplishes this by using pieces of President Trump’s rule on modernizing H-2A, implements strong conservative measures such as e-verify, while allowing for a process to ensure farmers have the workforce they need to keep putting food on the table. Fundamentally, FWMA incorporates Idaho solutions to solve a national problem.

“There are aspects of this bill that I would have avoided had the House Majority been in different hands. However, this bill goes a long way to solve the problem. In short, this bill stabilizes the current workforce, provides for future labor needs, and addresses both rising labor costs and a year-round worker program that our dairymen desperately need.

“If we want to fix our broken immigration system and get rid of bad actors in this country, we need sound policies in place for the majority of immigrants who respect the system, want to work legally and see Idaho as their home. Absent that, we will continue to operate under a patchwork of laws that spread thin our valuable law enforcement resources, and away from the real issues that threaten our public safety. To put it another way, I want our patriotic police officers and sheriff deputies to keep us safe from threats to our physical safety. Not spending their time dealing with issues created by our nation’s broken immigration system.

“Compromise is hard. So is farm labor. But hard work and compromise are exactly what we need to solve this problem and support our agriculture industry so Idaho farmers and families can continue to feed the world. I’m pleased that over 40 agriculture and business groups in Idaho support the bill.”

 

To learn more about Congressman Simpson’s bill, please visit his website.





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Cong. Simpson Praises Gov. Little, AG Wasden and US DOE’s Resolution that Complies with Settlement Agreement and Allows Spent Fuel Research

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson congratulates Governor Brad Little and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden for reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy that allows research quantities of commercial spent nuclear fuel to be brought to the Idaho National Laboratory.

“I’m thrilled by today’s news and want to congratulate Governor Little, Attorney General Wasden, and the Department of Energy for successfully negotiating an update to the 1995 Idaho Settlement Agreement,” said Congressman Simpson. “This is a modernized agreement that reflects the successes of the cleanup mission and the growing and thriving work at the Idaho National Laboratory. 

“I also want to congratulate the world class employees of both the Idaho Cleanup Project and the Idaho National Lab,” said Simpson. “This agreement is only possible because of the hard work, dedication, and many milestones that have already been achieved in cleaning up the legacy of the past.  We all know more work needs to be done, and I am grateful for the DOE’s continued commitment to finishing that work once and for all.  This agreement paves the way for many more years of successful collaboration between the State of Idaho and the Department of Energy promoting our national security and America’s energy future.”

Link to 2019 Supplemental Agreement: https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/74/2019/11/doe-inl-2019-supplemental-agreement-signed.pdf

Link to 1995 Settlement Agreement: https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/74/2019/11/doe-inl-1995-settlement-agreement.pdf

Link to 2011 MOA: https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/74/2019/11/doe-inl-2011-moa.pdf

Link to relevant letters: https://gov.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/74/2019/11/doe-inl-letters.pdf

 

Simpson is former Chairman of U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water and is currently Ranking Member. This subcommittee oversees funding for the Department of Energy.

 


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Risch, Crapo, Simpson Announce Late November, Early December Senior Outreach Schedule in the Magic Valley  

U.S. Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo and Rep. Mike Simpson announced that representatives from their Twin Falls regional offices will be holding outreach hours at senior centers throughout the Magic Valley in late November and early December. 

Staff members will be available from 11:00am – 1:30pm at each visit to discuss federal issues and concerns. Representatives from the Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) and CSI Office on Aging will also be available to provide resources and answer questions.



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Floor Schedule

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH
On Monday, no votes are expected in the House.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 12TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 4625 - Protect the GI Bill Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Levin / Veterans' Affairs Committee)

2) H.R. 4477 - Reducing High Risk to Veterans and Veterans Services Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Pappas / Veterans' Affairs Committee)

3) H.R. 4771 - VA Tele-Hearing Modernization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Joe Cunningham / Veterans' Affairs Committee)

4) H.R. 4360 - VA Overpayment Accountability Act (Sponsored by Rep. Andy Kim / Veterans' Affairs Committee)

5) H.R. 4356 - Protecting Families of Fallen Servicemembers Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Josh Harder / Veterans' Affairs Committee)

6) H.R. 4162 - GI Bill Planning Act of 2019, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Jack Bergman / Veterans' Affairs Committee)

7) H.R. 3996 - VA Design-Build Construction Enhancement Act of 2019 (Sponsored by Rep. Jim Banks / Veterans' Affairs Committee)

8) H.R. 1424 - Fallen Warrior Battlefield Cross Memorial Act (Sponsored by Rep. Anthony Gonzalez / Veterans' Affairs Committee)

9) H.R. 3224 - Deborah Sampson Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Julia Brownley / Veterans' Affairs Committee)

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 4803 - Citizenship for Children of Military Members and Civil Servants Act (Sponsored by Rep. Jerry Nadler / Judiciary Committee)

2) H.R. 4258 - Reauthorizing Security for Supreme Court Justices Act of 2019 (Sponsored by Rep. Greg Stanton / Judiciary Committee)

3) H.R. 1663 - Foundation of the Federal Bar Association Charter Amendments Act of 2019 (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Chabot / Judiciary Committee)

4) H.R. 3537 - Veteran Entrepreneur Training Act of 2019 (Sponsored by Rep. Brad Schneider / Small Business Committee)

5) H.R. 3661 - Patriotic Employer Protection Act of 2019, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Andy Kim / Small Business Committee)

6) H.R. 499 - Service-Disabled Veterans Small Business Continuation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Chabot / Small Business Committee)

7) H.R. 3734 - SERV Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Sharice Davids / Small Business Committee)

8) H.R. 1615 - VA-SBA Act, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Trent Kelly / Small Business Committee)

9) H.R. 1773 - Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019 (Sponsored by Rep. Jackie Speier / Financial Services Committee)

H.R. 4863 - United States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Maxine Waters / Financial Services Committee)


Additional Legislative Items Are Possible


                   
 
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