Oregon鈥檚 only Republican in Congress broke with his party on a policy issue for the first time this week since taking federal office. Rep. Cliff Bentz split over an immigration bill aimed at farmworker visas and backed by nearly all House Democrats and the Biden administration.
The Farm Workforce Modernization Act is one of two bills to overhaul the immigration system passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. HB 1603 establishes a system for agricultural workers to earn temporary status with an eventual option to become a permanent resident, Spouses and children of workers could also apply for temporary status under the act.
Just 30 out of 211 House Republicans voted in favor of the bill, which seeks to change the existing H2-A visa program.
鈥淭he H2-A program, which allows people to come into America legally, is an absolutely essential program because it allows farmers, ranchers, nurseries, dairies and everybody that needs help, to find that help,鈥� Bentz said.
He represents Oregon鈥檚 2nd District. It鈥檚 one of five congressional districts in the state, but it accounts for nearly half of all the state鈥檚 total agricultural sales, with more than $2.4 billion worth of products sold in 2017, .
Bentz said Oregon鈥檚 agricultural employers have long struggled to maintain a stable workforce, calling it an 鈥渆xistential issue,鈥� for some industries.
鈥淎ttracting people to these jobs is extremely difficult and it鈥檚 becoming a question of whether or not we鈥檒l still be able to compete in the food raising business,鈥� Bentz said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e losing control of our food supply without this kind of help.鈥�
Bentz voted against the other major piece of immigration legislation the House passed this week, , which only nine Republican lawmakers supported. The act would create a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children 鈥� otherwise known as 鈥淒REAMers,鈥� people with temporary protected status, and beneficiaries of deferred enforced departure. It passed by a vote of 228-197, as NPR reported.
, President Biden called for more bipartisanship.
鈥淢y Administration is ready to work with leaders on both sides of the aisle to address the needs of our essential workers, bring greater dignity and security to our agricultural sector, and finally enact the long-term solutions we need to create a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system,鈥� Biden wrote.
Copyright 2021 Oregon Public Broadcasting
