[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 130 (Thursday, July 27, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Brown, Mrs. 
        Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Warren, Mr. Welch, and Mr. 
        Wyden):
  S. 2702. A bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization 
Act of 1994 to reauthorize the position of Farmworker Coordinator; to 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. PADILLA. Madam President, I rise to speak in support of the Voice 
for Farm Workers Act of 2023, which I introduced today.
  Farmworkers feed our Nation. This is especially true in California, 
agricultural heart of the Nation. California is the most successful 
State in agricultural production and has the largest population of 
farmworkers. During COVID-19, a time of incredible hardship, 
farmworkers put food on the tables of millions of Americans despite 
working in extreme conditions and facing deep-rooted inequities.
  Right now, just one person is statutorily dedicated to serving as a 
liaison between farmworkers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture--the 
Farmworker Coordinator. While the 2008 farm bill created this position, 
Congress has never provided the proper resources to support or staff 
this position. The 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture Equity 
Commission Interim Report even included a strong recommendation for the 
USDA to fund and elevate roles for professional staff solely dedicated 
to farmworkers' concerns and perspectives.
  It is time that we support the USDA staff who are dedicated to 
integrating the valuable perspectives of farmworkers into the decisions 
that directly affect the lives and livelihoods of these workers.
  That is why I am proud to introduce this bill, which would expand the 
current role of USDA Farmworker Coordinator to allow for the 
Coordinator to create recommendations for new initiatives and programs, 
collaborate within the Department on programmatic and policy decisions 
that related to farm and food system workers, and allow for the 
employment of additional staff to support the Coordinator in their 
duties.
  This bill would include additional entities for the Farmworker 
Coordinator to consult with, including institutions of higher 
education, local education agencies, and community-based nonprofit 
organizations, to increase outreach efforts and ensure that more 
farmworkers in more communities can be heard.
  As we work towards passing this year's farm bill, I urge my 
colleagues to consider the farmworkers who keep our families and 
communities fed and healthy.
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