The National Potato Council will host a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Feb 26 to urge the U.S. Senate to take up legislation to solve the agricultural labor crisis.
The 1 p.m. Eastern event at the House Triangle, U.S. Capitol Building, according to a news release, is part of the NPC’s 2020 Potato D.C. Fly-In advocacy event. About 125 industry members are expected for the event, which will be broadcast lives on Facebook Facebook.com/NationalPotatoCouncil.
The NPC said the House of Representatives took the needed first step in addressing the ag labor crisis late last year when it passed the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act. According to the release, bill sponsors and supporters of that legislation, including Reps. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., and Mario Díaz-Balart, R-Fla., will join the NPC at the event to urge the Senate to draft and enact long-term labor solutions for American agriculture.
Expected speakers at the event include:
- NPC president Britt Raybould, of Raybould Brothers Farms, Rexburg, Idaho;
- NPC vice president of legislative and government affairs R.J. Andrus, Idaho Falls, Idaho;
- U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson;
- U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse ;
- U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart;
- Jim Bair, president and CEO of the U.S. Apple Association; and
- NPC grower leaders.
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