Immigration Reform, Farm Bill Define Remaining Field of Legislation (Rep. Joe Baca)

Two Pieces of Unfinished Business

As Congress begins to wrap up the legislative session for 2007, there remain some key priorities that have yet to be addressed. Two areas of greatest concern to me are Congress’ inability to pass immigration reform legislation, and the Senate’s inaction on the 2007 Farm Bill.

Immigration Reform

Many of my colleagues in the House, and millions of Americans across our nation, have been disappointed by Congress’ inability to pass immigration reform this year. Our current immigration system is broken and must be fixed.

Congress has the responsibility to pass immigration reform that strengthens our national security, secures our economy, and brings workers and their families out of the shadows of society. Instead of action, we have had empty debate that has dissolved into anti-immigrant rhetoric. The American people deserve better.

It is critical that the President and Congress work in a bipartisan way to pass an immigration reform bill worthy of the American people. The price of inaction on our country’s safety and economic security is too high.

Farm Bill

This summer, the House passed a historic Farm Bill that committed record levels of federal assistance to our nation’s nutrition programs. Unfortunately, since that time, legislators and Americans everywhere have had to wait for our colleagues in the Senate to complete their end of the bargain and pass a Farm Bill.

The 38 million Americans who go to bed every night without enough to eat should not have to wait any longer for the vital federal assistance this bill provides. From increasing the food stamp index to keep up with the true cost of living, to expanding school nutrition programs, to strengthening our nation’s food banks, the 2007 Farm Bill passed by the House provides over 13 million American families with nutrition assistance.

I urge my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly on this matter, and I urge the President to reconsider his misguided veto threat of a reform-minded Farm Bill that takes an important step towards ending hunger in America. Our communities shouldn’t be made to wait any longer for the assistance they need.