Representative Mike Simpson

Congressman Simpson's Update

February 25th, 2022

Idaho's Agricultural Labor Shortage

Immigration reform is a vitally important issue.

This week I was glad to join the Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry, the American Business Immigration Coalition, and the Idaho Dairymen's Association to discuss solutions to Idaho's Ag labor shortage.

Specifically, we discussed a bill I have been championing in Congress - the Farm Workforce Modernization Act.

Farmers and ranchers across the United States are in desperate need of a high-quality, reliable workforce, and the current H-2A guestworker program is in need of meaningful, bipartisan reform. The FWMA creates a workforce solution by:

Establishing a program for agricultural workers in the United States to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contribution to the U.S. agricultural economy;
Reforming the H-2A program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers. The bill focuses on modifications to make the program more responsive and user-friendly for employers and provides access to the program for industries with year-round labor needs; and
Establishing mandatory, nationwide E-Verify system for all agricultural employment with a structured phase-in and guaranteed due process for authorized workers who are incorrectly rejected by the system.

Simpson Discusses Supply Chain Issues With McCain Foods USA

Washington, D.C. – This week, Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson visited McCain Foods USA processing plant in Burley, Idaho. McCain Foods USA is the nation’s leading supplier of frozen potato and snack food products across the country. Simpson toured McCain’s plant operations and met with company leadership to discuss ongoing issues related to supply chain disruptions.

“It was a pleasure to be hosted by McCain Foods today and I appreciate the time we had to discuss the significant issues impacting our agricultural supply chain,” said Simpson. “Companies like McCain Foods are important to Idaho’s rich agricultural history, and they have been a good partner to the Burley community for over 60 years providing job opportunities and local economic investment. As Chairman of the Congressional Potato Caucus, I look forward to working with McCain Foods and others to address the needs of our food processors and growers.”

Read the Full Press Release

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In the District

Over the last two weeks I have had the privilege of traveling across the 2nd Congressional District and meeting with many of you.

It was a pleasure to visit the McCain Foods USA processing plant in Burley - As Chairman of the Congressional Potato Caucus, I enjoy working with McCain Foods and others to address the needs of our food processors and growers.

In Jerome, we celebrated the 100th Anniversary of Con Paulos Chevrolet, a staple of the Magic Valley. This is an exciting accomplishment for a business that is committed to growing and improving the local economy.

The American Falls FFA program invited me to discuss my Columbia Basin Initiative and what it will take to secure a stable future for Idaho Agriculture. Thanks for a great meeting!

One of my favorite parts of this job is being able to help Idaho students pursue their dreams of attending one of our nation's service academies. Idahoan's can be proud of this year's nominees - they will represent our state well.