Republican members of the U.S. House told sugar growers during the International Sweetener Symposium in Napa, California they expect immigration reform bills and the farm bill conference report will come to the floor this fall. In fact – according to California Representative David Valadao – floor consideration of immigration bills will likely begin in October. He said it will be a step-by-step approach. As for the farm bill – Valadao hopes Texas Representative Michael Conaway was right. Conaway told symposium attendees that Congress would finish the farm bill this year. He did express – however – that the road ahead is tough and that growers need to reach out to members of Congress. California Representative Jeff Denham predicted House leaders will appoint farm bill conferees in early September and Congress will finish the bill that month. He expects the conference report will be less palatable than the farm-program-only legislation approved by the House – but still believes it will be a stand-alone bill.
Regarding immigration reform – Denham said it will likely come up in several pieces – border security first, then security in the interior of the country, electronic verification of employees and a bill dealing with the students who came here illegally with their parents, but have lived here all of their lives. Denham would like to add an amendment that would allow immigrants who join the U.S. military to become eligible for citizenship.
Source:NAFB News Service