He may have announced that he’ll not seek reelection next year, but Washington Representative Dan Newhouse still has things he needs to get done before leaving office.
One of those things is bringing the Farm Workforce Modernization Act back onto the floor for another run.
“I would characterize that as working on it still. We haven’t let up. It’s been an ongoing conversation. You know, it takes a lot behind the scenes before bills actually ‘ripen,’ I guess is a good term, and they’re ready for consideration in committee and on the floor.”
Newhouse says GT Thompson, Chair of the Ag Committee, has been very good about putting together ideas for this legislation.
“And I’m happy to report that through his efforts and through his working group that he put together, most of the tenants of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act have been put together in what he’s trying to accomplish. So, that’s good. We’re building, I guess, a broader base of support, and some incentives and initiatives are happening there.”
But Newhouse says it’s never easy.
“That’s one of the frustrating things about Congress. It takes, sometimes, so long to get anything accomplished. That is really a test of our ability to stick with the work in front of us. And that’s what I’m trying to help people do is stay focused on this. We gotta get it done.”
Newhouse says farmers have been great lately about letting their representatives know what they need and hopes they keep it up.