'A bitter pill to swallow': Industry reacts to Affordable and Secure Food Act’s failure to pass

On Dec. 19, the Senate failed to pass the Affordable and Secure Food Act as part of an omnibus spending bill. Proponents of the bill said it would reform and streamline the current H-2A visa program, provide a path to citizenship, stabilize wages and help to resolve the country’s labor crisis.

Calling the bill’s failure to pass a missed “crucial opportunity” and “bitter pill to swallow," industry organizations have responded with frustration, disappointment and a pledge to continue to pursue reforms.

Following news that the Affordable and Secure Food Act will not be included in the omnibus spending bill, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia issued the following statement:

“The Senate has missed another crucial opportunity to resolve the farm labor and food production crisis facing this country. Since 2015, our dependence on imported fruits and vegetables has increased by more than 50% and is on track to exceed another 12% this year. Without a stable, legal agricultural workforce, our nation will become increasingly dependent on imported food.

“We are proud to have joined with Sen. Michael Bennet, legislators on both sides of the aisle in the House and most of our agricultural industry partners in bringing forward a carefully negotiated and balanced farm labor solution.”

Related: Congress fails to pass farm labor reforms in omnibus spending bill

Similarly, Jim Bair, president and CEO of U.S. Apple Association, issued the following statement:

“This week the Senate will adjourn without finishing its work. The House twice passed bipartisan legislation to reform our broken agriculture labor system and the Senate failed to act. A good bill passed the House, and a better one was introduced in the Senate. To get right up to the finish line — but not cross it — is a bitter pill to swallow when the bill would have improved the ag workforce picture by every measure.

“The U.S. apple industry applauds the bipartisan efforts of Reps. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash.; Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. and others for their efforts in the House. We also are thankful to Rep. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, who worked for 18 months with Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo. to craft bipartisan legislation, but in the end could not garner the level of support needed to get it across the finish line.

“Sen. Bennet continued those efforts and worked tirelessly, and we are proud to have worked with him and thank him for his leadership. But in the end, it wasn’t enough. Apple growers across the country are now left to fend for themselves as input costs rise, export markets decline and the cost of labor will increase Jan. 1, by as much as 12%.

Related: Farmers get socked with big hike in H-2A wage rates

“As a new Congress will soon be sworn in, we will not give up seeking these important reforms. We hope that they can find it in themselves to roll up their sleeves, get to work and find a solution,” Bair continued. “Apple growers do this every day. They are making tough decisions to determine if they can continue producing America’s favorite fruit for another year, or if what has been a livelihood for three, four or more generations stops with this one.”

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives President Chuck Conner released the following statement:

“NCFC is profoundly disappointed that the Senate chose not to vote on an amendment that would have added the Affordable and Secure Food Act to the omnibus funding bill. This is a lost opportunity for Congress to have addressed the labor crisis in agriculture that threatens the economic survival of farms and ranches across the country.

“Producers will enter the new year facing a continued shortage of skilled workers combined with spiraling wage costs in the H-2A program. This failure to act will have long-term consequences that will impact agricultural policy for years to come.

“At the same time, we would like to recognize the tremendous leadership shown on this issue by members of Congress who understand the gravity of the situation and who have had the political courage to tackle this issue head-on, including Sen. Michael Bennet, Congressman Dan Newhouse, and Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren,” he continued. “We look forward to working with them and others in the coming Congress to find a path forward on ag labor reform.”