H-2B Cap Looms for Landscape Industry
Aug 4, 08 American Nursery & Landscape Association
The H2-B Cap has been reached for the first half of this fiscal year. According to ANLA, with losses from last year still affecting the landscape industry, the H-2B cap could spell trouble.
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Senate Committee Passes Guest Worker Measures
May 16, 08 ANLA
The Senate Appropriations Committee recently passed two measures intended to provide relief for critical labor shortages in seasonal agricultural and nonagricultural industries. The committee passages are only the first steps in a long legislative process, but they represent an important victory for green industry employees.
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ANLA Provides H-2B Testimony
Apr 18, 08 ANLA
The American Nursery & Landscape Association submitted testimony last week for a hearing held by the House Sub-committee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law, criticizing the failure of Congress to promote viable guest worker programs.
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Feinstein Considering Temporary Emergency Measure
Mar 24, 08 ANLA
In the wake of a continued labor crisis, the passage of anti-employer state legislation and the prospect of the social security no-match rule being reissued as early as April, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a strong supporter of the AgJOBS legislation, is gauging support for a temporary emergency measure that would contain most reforms proposed by AgJOBS.
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Contact Your Local Representative
Mar 20, 08 OFA, SAF
This year will be a difficult one for funding, and Congress must hear from the industry in support of the initiative!
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MFGC Selects Policy Issues for 2008
Mar 7, 08 MFGC
Members of the Michigan Floriculture Growers Council, which was formed in 2006 to represent the industry on national and state issues, has selected the key topics to focus on for 2008. The comprehensive list includes water, labor, business tax, farm bill, energy policy, immigration and labor.
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Significant Overhaul Announced for Legal-Farm Worker Program
Feb 8, 08 USA Today
As the industry grapples with a chronic labor shortage, steps are being taken toward the most significant overhaul in two decades of the national’s agricultural guest worker program. The proposed changes to alter the legal–farm worker program by relaxing requirements for the H-2A visas granted to them are set against a backdrop of growing tension over illegal immigration.
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Register for SAF’s Congressional Action Days
Jan 25, 08 SAF
The Society of American Florists’ Congressional Action Days, taking place Feb. 25-26 in Washington, D.C., is your chance to put your issues on the legislative table in a critical election year.
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Meet U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez
Jan 11, 08 SAF
Don’t miss the opportunity to voice your concerns to the nation’s top business policy maker, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez, during SAF’s Congressional Action Days.
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Senate Rekindles Farm Bill Debate
Dec 14, 07 SAF
After a month-long gridlock, the Senate was scheduled to begin debating amendments to the Farm Bill last Friday, Dec. 14. Groups such as the Specialty Crop Farm Alliance are fighting for amendments to the bill that would better address their needs.
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Make Your Voice Heard During Congressional Action Days
Nov 30, 07 SAF
Congressional Action Days 2008, taking place Feb. 25-27, offers industry members the opportunity to ensure that legislators hear their collective voice. The Society of American Florists encourages all members to register and will train attendees on how to communicate their message most effectively.
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Senate Passes One-Year Extension of H-2B Legislation
Oct 22, 07 ANLA
Last week, the Senate passed a one-year extension of the H-2B return guest worker exemption, offering some short-term relief for the industry. However, the American Nursery & Landscape Association emphasizes the need for all industry members to keep pushing for a more long-term solution to the industry's escalating labor crisis.
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H-2B Cap Met for First Half of 2008
Oct 8, 07 ANLA
In the wake of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announcement that the H-2B cap for the first half of 2008 has already been met, ANLA urges workers in the landscape and tree care industries to get involved in the fight to extend the return worker exemption.
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Coalition Urges Grassroots Support of AgJOBS
Sep 24, 07 SAF
In an effort to step up the pressure on Congress to pass AgJOBS, the Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform is asking its members to generate as much grassroots support as possible in the House and Senate this fall.
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Immigration Talks Begin Anew in Congress
Sep 24, 07 Various
Months after Congress failed to pass a broad immigration overhaul, lawmakers are quietly returning to the controversial issue, narrowing the debate to measures that address low-skilled laborers and illegal immigrants, reported The LA Times.
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ANLA Joins Lawsuit Against "No-Match" Rule
Sep 17, 07 ANLA
The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) joined seven organizations on a lawsuit filed last week, challenging the legality of the controversial Social Security no-match rule. ANLA has joined the lawsuit in an effort to combat the added burdens that the regulation would place on the green industry.
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ANLA Expresses Disappointment At Immigration Bill Failure
Jul 9, 07 ANLA
The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA) expressed deep disappointment at the Senate’s failure to advance S.1639, the comprehensive immigration bill. The bill stalled after a critical procedural vote failed 53-46. According to the ANLA, the Senate’s failure cast doubt on whether or how a truly comprehensive bill might be able to regain traction in Congress.
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Duty-Free Status Extended
Jul 9, 07 SAF
Duty-free status for flowers coming into the United States from Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru will continue after Congress passed legislation extending the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act for eight months — through February 2008.
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Senate Continues To Wrestle With Immigration Bill
Jun 18, 07 Various
At the end of the Senate’s second week of debate on S. 1348, the comprehensive immigration reform bill, Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pulled the bill from the floor following disagreements with opponents of the bipartisan compromise. However, late last week, Senate leaders were working on a plan to revive the bill as early as this week.
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House Subcommittee Passes Farm Bill Provisions
Jun 18, 07 ANLA
Farm bill legislation has seen some progress in the House of Representatives recently. Chairman Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) convened the Horticulture and Organic Agriculture Subcommittee to consider the draft of provisions of the farm bill that fall within its jurisdiction.
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ATPDEA Deadline Approaching
Jun 11, 07 SAF
With a June 30 deadline approaching, Congress has not yet taken steps to ensure continuation of the duty-free status for flowers coming into the United States from Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. Without congressional action, importers of record will begin paying duties on flowers from these countries on July 1, 2007.
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White House Announces Immigration Agreement
May 21, 07 Various
The White House and several key senators announced last week an agreement has been reached on an immigration overhaul that would strengthen the U.S.-Mexico border and grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the United States. The plan includes a temporary worker program and a separate program for agricultural workers.
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ACIR-NCAE Lobby Day To Take Place This Week
May 14, 07 SAF
The Senate is scheduled to take up the issue of immigration reform during the last two weeks of May, and it is important to let lawmakers know it is vital to the green industry that comprehensive immigration reform is passed this year.
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SAF Continues Search For AgJOBS Cosponsorship
May 7, 07 SAF
The Society of American Florists is waiting for the final two weeks in May when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has scheduled floor time to debate immigration legislation. Negotiations still have not produced a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
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SAF Signs Onto Ad In The Hill
Apr 30, 07 SAF
The Society of American Florists joined other members of the Essential Worker Immigration Coalition in signing onto an advertisement urging Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform in the weekly newspaper The Hill’s immigration reform edition.
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More Immigration Proposals Introduced
Apr 16, 07 SAF
Before Congress began its spring recess, there were several developments on immigration reform. In addition to the bipartisan STRIVE Act, there was action from other House members and the administration.
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Tax Gap Proposal Threatens Small Businesses
Apr 16, 07 SAF
The Society of American Florists is working with small-business groups to ensure that any Internal Revenue Service proposals to address the tax gap are not unfair to small businesses.
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Minimum Wage Increase Stalled In Iraq Politics
Apr 9, 07 SAF
House members, who thought an increase in the minimum wage would be easy, are now fighting with the Senate as well as the President, who has said he would sign an increase in the minimum wage.
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H-2B Cap Met For Second Half Of Fiscal Year 2007
Apr 2, 07 ANLA
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced it has received a sufficient number of petitions to reach the congressionally mandated 33,000 H-2B visa cap for the final six months of Fiscal Year 2007. According to the USCIS, the final receipt date for H-2B applications was March 16, 2007.
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Reps Introduce Eat Healthy America Act
Apr 2, 07 ANLA
Last month, several U.S. representatives introduced the Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act, which is a comprehensive bill geared towards the specialty crop industry.
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STRIVE Act Outlines Immigration Reform Key Components
Apr 2, 07 ANLA
Last month, a bipartisan group of congressmen announced the introduction of the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy Act of 2007. The key components of the bill include increased border security, an electronic employee verification system, a year-round temporary worker program, earned adjustment for the 12 million undocumented people currently in the United States.
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President Supports Death Tax Repeal
Feb 19, 07 SAF
A number of organizations, including the Society of American Florists, met recently to sign a letter to the president thanking him for demonstrating his continued support for family businesses. Again this year, President Bush included a provision to permanently eliminate the death tax in the fiscal 2008 budget.
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House Passes Air-Cargo Screening Resolution
Jan 29, 07 SAF
The House recently approved H.R. 1, the Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007 introduced by Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, in a 299-128 vote. One bill provision would expand screening of cargo carried in passenger aircrafts. In some cases, flowers are shipped on passenger aircrafts and are a perishable product, which means delaying cargo could significantly slow supply chains.
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Immigration Key In State Of The Union
Jan 29, 07 ANLA
President Bush expressed a commitment to comprehensive immigration reform during his State of the Union address. The President said that reform must include security at U.S. borders; a workable worksite enforcement system; a temporary worker program that will respond to the needs of our economy; a program that will bring hardworking, undocumented immigrants out of the shadows to be considered for permanent legal status provided certain strict criteria are met; and expanded efforts to promote assimilation of immigrants into society.
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House Votes To Increase Minimum Wage
Jan 22, 07 Various
The House of Representatives recently voted to increase the federal minimum wage, boosting it by $2.10 an hour to $7.25 in three phases over two years. Under the bill, the minimum wage would increase from $5.15 an hour to $5.85 per hour 60 days after enactment. One year later, the wage would increase to $6.55 an hour, and a year after that, it would go to $7.25 an hour. The legislation now moves to the Senate.
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AgJOBS Act Reintroduced
Jan 15, 07 ANLA
A bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives recently announced the reintroduction of the Agricultural Job Opportunity, Benefit and Security Act of 2007, or AgJOBS. The legislation intends to provide for a more stable, secure, safe and legal U.S. agricultural work force and food supply. Senators Larry Craig (R-ID) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Representatives George Radanovich (R-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA) announced the move at a recent press conference.
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‘Phony Florist’ Bill Signed
Dec 18, 06 SAF
Last month, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell signed legislation that makes it more difficult for order-gatherers to masquerade as local florists.
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Andean Trade Act Approved
Dec 18, 06 SAF
Congress recently approved a 6-month extension of the Andean Trade Preference and Drug Eradication Act for Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia. Therefore, duties will not be assessed on importers of record as of Jan. 1, 2007.
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ANLA News
Dec 11, 06 ANLA
ANLA has been working hard recently on a number of immigration issues. See what the association has been up to and what you can do to help.
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Industry Members Fight Deceptive Phone Listings
Dec 4, 06 SAF
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 198, which makes it unlawful for a floral vendor to misrepresent its geographic location by listing a fictitious name in a local telephone/electronic directory, was approved by a unanimous vote in the Pennsylvania House recently.
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South Dakota Announces Specialty Crop Grant Program
Nov 20, 06 South Dakota Department of Agriculture
South Dakota’s Department of Agriculture recently announced a new program that will provide grants for improving specialty crop projects. For this program, specialty crops are defined as nursery crops (including floriculture), vegetables, fruits, dried fruits and tree nuts.
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