MEDIA ADVISORY: Potato Growers, House Supporters of Ag Labor Reform to Call for Senate Action on Legislation

Potato growers to host a press conference with agricultural industry partners and members of the U.S. House of Representatives to call on the U.S. Senate to take up legislation to solve the agricultural labor crisis.

Legislative push cornerstone of National Potato Council’s 2020 Potato D.C. Fly-In


WASHINGTON, D.C. – Wed., Feb. 26 at 1:00 pm ET, potato growers from across the United States will host a press conference with agricultural industry partners and members of the U.S. House of Representatives to call on the U.S. Senate to take up legislation to solve the agricultural labor crisis. The effort is part of the National Potato Council’s (NPC) 2020 Potato D.C. Fly-In, an annual advocacy event where approximately 125 industry members join together to stand up for potatoes on Capitol Hill.

NPC applauded the House for taking the first step in providing a solution to the ag labor crisis late last year through the passage of the bipartisan Farm Workforce Modernization Act (H.R. 5038). Bill sponsors and supporters including Reps. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho), Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.), and Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) will join NPC to urge the Senate to begin that chamber’s process of drafting and enacting long-term labor solutions that support the health of American agriculture and its workers.

Who:    NPC President Britt Raybould

              NPC Vice President of Legislative Affairs RJ Andrus

              U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson (R-Idaho)

              U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.)

              U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.)

              U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart (R-Fla.)

              U.S. Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.)

              Jim Bair, President and CEO, U.S. Apple Association

              Chuck Conner, President and CEO, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

When: Wed., Feb., 26

              1:00-1:45 p.m. ET

Where: House Triangle, U.S. Capitol Building      

RSVP:    media@nationalpotatocouncil.org. The event will also be streamed live at

Facebook.com/NationalPotatoCouncil.

The National Potato Council represents the interests of U.S. potato growers on federal legislative, regulatory, environmental and trade issues. The value of U.S. potato production is over $3.7 billion annually and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly.

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