On July 13, a team of green industry business owners representing the American Nursery and Landscape Association came to Washington to explain to Congress that mandating E-Verify, without broader labor solutions, will cost jobs and damage the economy. The ANLA team, representing the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, met with 20 House and Senate offices and was part of a broader lobbying day that also included coalition partners from New England, Florida, Texas, California, and elsewhere.
The House Judiciary Committee is expected to take up H.R.2164 as early as the week of July 25. The full House could consider the E-Verify bill in September. Presently, the bill would require all employers to use E-Verify within 3 years. ANLA said the bill provides no solution to ensure employers can find enough workers, especially for agricultural and seasonal jobs.
“As goes Georgia, so goes the nation,” said Craig Regelbrugge, ANLA vice-president for government relations.
Earlier this year, Georgia passed a state immigration enforcement and E-Verify law. It rapidly led to farm labor shortages of 30-50%, and growers there are bracing for crop losses that may reach $300 million.
“E-Verify alone, in the name of creating jobs, will kill American jobs and economic activity,” Regelbrugge said.