Western Growers, UFW congratulate McCarthy but differ on importance of immigration
June 20, 2014 | 04:15 PM
Tom Nassif, the CEO of Western Growers, and United Farm Workers President Arturo Rodriguez congratulated Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on his election as House majority leader Thursday but differed in their emphasis on immigration reform.
McCarthy was elected to succeed House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., who lost his primary election. McCarthy was majority whip, and Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., was elected to succeed him.
McCarthy represents the greater Bakersfield area in the San Joaquin Valley, which is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, said Nassif, whose organization represents California- and Arizona-based growers who ship about half the fruits and vegetables in the country.
“We are very pleased to have our industry so well represented in the House leadership structure,” said Nassif, who has been a Republican appointee in previous administrations.
“Majority Leader-elect McCarthy has provided critical leadership on a number of issues impacting the produce industry, including ensuring passage of a farm bill that recognizes the importance of fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, ongoing work to negotiate a solution to our water crisis, and of course working to address the immigration needs of agriculture,” he said.
“Time is short and the problems our country and industry face are urgent. We look forward to working this year with the new majority leader to bring relief to our drought stricken farmers and to finally fix our broken immigration system.”
But while Nassif raised immigration reform as the last of a series of issues, it was the only issue Rodriguez mentioned.
“We congratulate Kevin McCarthy on winning the position of House majority leader,” Rodriguez said.
“Now, as the leader in charge of determining the House agenda, Kevin McCarthy has the power to move immigration legislation that the nation and his district both want,” he said.
“Either he leads and schedules a vote on immigration and demonstrates he’s capable of leading his constituents and his party; or he squanders the opportunity, blocks a vote on legislation that the nation and his district support, and fails to deliver desperately needed reform to the San Joaquin Valley and our country.”
“With the window for legislation quickly closing, Congressman McCarthy needs to act fast,” Rodriguez said. “How and when he acts will tell us if Congressman McCarthy is serious about using his new power to fix his district’s and our nation’s biggest problems.”
McCarthy was elected to succeed House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., who lost his primary election. McCarthy was majority whip, and Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., was elected to succeed him.
McCarthy represents the greater Bakersfield area in the San Joaquin Valley, which is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world, said Nassif, whose organization represents California- and Arizona-based growers who ship about half the fruits and vegetables in the country.
“We are very pleased to have our industry so well represented in the House leadership structure,” said Nassif, who has been a Republican appointee in previous administrations.
“Majority Leader-elect McCarthy has provided critical leadership on a number of issues impacting the produce industry, including ensuring passage of a farm bill that recognizes the importance of fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, ongoing work to negotiate a solution to our water crisis, and of course working to address the immigration needs of agriculture,” he said.
“Time is short and the problems our country and industry face are urgent. We look forward to working this year with the new majority leader to bring relief to our drought stricken farmers and to finally fix our broken immigration system.”
But while Nassif raised immigration reform as the last of a series of issues, it was the only issue Rodriguez mentioned.
“We congratulate Kevin McCarthy on winning the position of House majority leader,” Rodriguez said.
“Now, as the leader in charge of determining the House agenda, Kevin McCarthy has the power to move immigration legislation that the nation and his district both want,” he said.
“Either he leads and schedules a vote on immigration and demonstrates he’s capable of leading his constituents and his party; or he squanders the opportunity, blocks a vote on legislation that the nation and his district support, and fails to deliver desperately needed reform to the San Joaquin Valley and our country.”
“With the window for legislation quickly closing, Congressman McCarthy needs to act fast,” Rodriguez said. “How and when he acts will tell us if Congressman McCarthy is serious about using his new power to fix his district’s and our nation’s biggest problems.”
