Labor Update Jan 2003

Summary of Washington, DC Activities @ NCAE Annual Meeting

As a newly elected Board member, I attended the annual meeting of NCAE which was held January 28th through 30th in Washington, DC.

The speakers focused on pending legislation for immigration/H2A reform and included political strategists and consultants, Carlos Felix head of immigration from the Mexican embassy, Rep. Chris Cannon, author of previous immigration legislation. We also heard from the head of Wage and Hour division of DOL, and someone from EPA.

In short, we should know this month if Ag. labor legislation will be put forward or not. The Congressional champions of this issue have been talking and supposedly agreed in substance on the details of a bill. What remains is an agreement of trust for both sides to push the legislation forward.

The National Chamber of Commerce will back the proposal with the Administration, and have the ear of Karl Rove.

GWSS Nursery funding ($5,000,000) is included in a $21,000,000 request for CCC funding that includes money for the Imperial Valley grape growers, and additional funds for the Central Valley for treatment of newly identified areas of GWSS infestation. This request has moved from USDA to OMB, and key congressional pressure is required for them to fund.

All in all the response was very positive from all those we met with on both issues. Considerable grassroots effort will be required if the labor issue is moved forward.

Congressional Calls:		Term
Elton Gallegly – Ventura/SB – Judiciary/Immigration		8th
Richard Mereu – CoS Katherine Martin - LA
Darrel Issa - North San Diego County		2nd
Josh Brown – SLA
Hilda Solis – Azusa/SG Valley		2nd
Rep. Solis Donald Lyster - LA
Jerry Lewis – Redlands/SB County – Appropriations		12th
Spencer SLA
Bill Thomas – Central Valley – Ways and Means		12th
Mike Holland – Leg. Diriector
John Doolittle – Butte County – Appropriations		6th
Jason Larabee – SLA Appropriations
David Dreier – L.A. County - Rules Committee Chair		11th
Alisa Do - LA
Richard Pombo – Stockton - Ag/Resources		5th
Chris D’arcy – Staff Director Ag Committee livestock & Horticulture
George Radanovich - Fresno – Resources		4th
Tricial Geringer - SLA
Cal Dooley – Fresno South – Agriculture		6th
Jim Travis - LA Tommy Barletta – LA labor
Chris Cox – Irvine/South Orange County		7th
Muhammad Hutasuhut – SLA Howard Feinberg - LA
Loretta Sanchez – Santa Ana/Garden Grove		3rd
Daniel Barda – SLA Kristen Cummings - LA