South Lake Today

Washington, D.C. — Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, along with Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL) and over a dozen House Republican colleagues, introduced legislation to block the Biden Department of Labor’s finalized H-2A unionization rule set to take effect June 28, 2024.

In response to the proposed regulation, Rep. Webster stated, "The finalized rule form Biden’s Department of Labor is a clear attack on the agriculture industry." He emphasized the importance of the agricultural sector, highlighting that "Agriculture is one of the three pillars of Florida’s economy and farmers and ranchers all over the country grow and raise the food that ends up on our kitchen tables."

The introduced legislation aims to utilize the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to rescind the Department of Labor’s recent policy. By invoking the CRA, Congress can overturn executive or agency actions, providing clarity on the agency’s statutory authority. Additionally, if enacted, the legislation would prevent the agency from engaging in similar rulemaking in the future.

The proposed rule, spanning 600 pages, has raised concerns among agricultural producers due to its potential to increase costs and grant temporary agricultural employees the ability to unionize. Rep. Webster emphasized his commitment to safeguarding farmers and ranchers from what he perceives as unnecessary and restrictive mandates from Washington.

The legislative efforts led by Rep. Webster, Rep. Franklin, and their Republican colleagues reflect a stance against the impending H-2A unionization rule, signaling a push to protect the interests of the agricultural industry in the face of regulatory changes.