Press Room

U.S. President-Elect, Joe Biden Nominates Tom Vilsack for Secretary of the Department of Agriculture

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Farmworker Justice supports the President-elect’s nomination of former governor of Iowa, Tom Vilsack for the next Secretary of Agriculture. Vilsack is the former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture who served under President Obama’s administration. Farmworker Justice worked with Tom Vilsack during his time in the previous administration. He was the first Secretary of … Read more U.S. President-Elect, Joe Biden Nominates Tom Vilsack for Secretary of the Department of Agriculture

Farmworkers Must Be Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

(Washington, D.C.) – Federal, state and local governments and health care providers should place farmworker families among the highest priority for access to COVID-19 vaccines and make strenuous efforts to overcome barriers to access faced by farmworkers and their families. Farmworkers have been designated essential workers and are expected to continue to work to ensure … Read more Farmworkers Must Be Prioritized for COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution

U.S. President-Elect, Joe Biden Nominates California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services

(Washington, D.C.) – President-elect Joe Biden announced California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as his nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. If confirmed, Becerra will be the first Latino to hold this office. Becerra’s mother was born in Mexico and his father, born in California, was raised in Mexico. His father early in his … Read more U.S. President-Elect, Joe Biden Nominates California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services

Farmworker Justice Supports the U.S. President-Elect’s Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Department of Homeland Security Secretary

November 23, 2020 — Farmworker Justice strongly supports the President-elect’s nomination of the former director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, to serve as the next Secretary of Homeland Security. Mayorkas brings a personal understanding of the immigrant experience. If confirmed, the former … Read more Farmworker Justice Supports the U.S. President-Elect’s Nomination of Alejandro Mayorkas as Department of Homeland Security Secretary

As COVID-19 Cases Soar, Trump Administration Rejects Requests for Safety Protections for Farmworkers under H-2A Agricultural Guestworker Program

More than three months after receiving a request to protect domestic and foreign farmworkers under the H-2A agricultural guestworker program from COVID-19, the Department of Labor (DOL) finally responded and refused to issue any of the requested job safety requirements. Yet the DOL recently announced that in August it will finalize its pending proposal for … Read more As COVID-19 Cases Soar, Trump Administration Rejects Requests for Safety Protections for Farmworkers under H-2A Agricultural Guestworker Program

Statement of Farmworker Justice On the Murder of George Floyd and the Demand for Racial Justice

Farmworker Justice condemns the murder of George Floyd by police officers in Minneapolis and expresses its condolences to Mr. Floyd’s family. The Farmworker Justice Board and staff stand in solidarity with the Black community in its demands for justice in this case and for eradication of the systemic racism that infects law enforcement and many … Read more Statement of Farmworker Justice On the Murder of George Floyd and the Demand for Racial Justice

Congress Should Tap CCC Funds To Protect Farmworkers

To protect farmworkers from the risks posed by COVID-19 and support food supply chains, Congress should tap funds from the Commodity Credit Corporation to ensure farmworkers are protected. “Thanks to the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, the Heroes Act would provide farmworkers with critical protections, including mandatory worker safety standards, premium pay, paid sick leave, paid … Read more Congress Should Tap CCC Funds To Protect Farmworkers

Farmworker Justice Statement on USDA-FDA MOU to Keep Farms & Packing Houses Running Despite Worker Illness from the Pandemic

The USDA and the FDA announced on Tuesday an agreement between the agencies to collaborate to keep farms and food processing companies running during the pandemic. The MOU anticipates the potential for disruptions in the harvests of fruits and vegetables and the processing and packing of foods due to worker illnesses. “One must read … Read more Farmworker Justice Statement on USDA-FDA MOU to Keep Farms & Packing Houses Running Despite Worker Illness from the Pandemic

New Farmworker Justice Report Quantifies Wage Loss to Tens of Thousands of Farmworkers in Proposal in Congress and the Administration

Friday, 08 May 2020 For Immediate Release May 8, 2020 Bruce Goldstein Washington , D.C. bgoldstein@farmworkerjustice.org New Farmworker Justice Report Quantifies Wage Loss to Tens of Thousands of Farmworkers in Proposal in Congress and the Administration Farmworker Justice, the Washington, D.C.-based national advocacy organization for farmworkers – the people who labor in the nation’s … Read more New Farmworker Justice Report Quantifies Wage Loss to Tens of Thousands of Farmworkers in Proposal in Congress and the Administration

Farmworker Justice Press Statement for EWG Press Call on Rep. Khanna and Sen. Warren’s Essential Workers Bill of Rights

Good afternoon. My name is Alexis Guild. I am the Director of Health Policy and Programs at Farmworker Justice. Farmworker Justice is a national farmworker advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. We appreciate the opportunity to be here today to discuss the need for protections for workers on farms and ranches during the COVID-19 pandemic. … Read more Farmworker Justice Press Statement for EWG Press Call on Rep. Khanna and Sen. Warren’s Essential Workers Bill of Rights