Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22) today issued the following statement in accordance with the introduction of H.R.353, the Protect Local Farms Act. The bill would block the New York State Farm Laborers Wage Board decision to set an overtime wage threshold for agriculture employees at 40 hours by mandating federally that the overtime threshold for the agriculture industry cannot be set lower than 60 hours per week – keeping New York’s current threshold in place.

The bill has been cosponsored by Reps. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Claudia Tenney (NY-24), Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Marc Molinaro (NY-19), and Andrew Clyde (GA-09).

 

Congressman Williams: "Last year, the New York State Farm Laborers Wage Board gave their final recommendation to lower the overtime threshold for farm workers from 60 to 40 hours. As these hardworking farmers know, farming is not like other industries. Farmers aren't working a desk job from nine to five and do not have a normal work week or schedule. Their entire industry depends on how they react to inclement weather and other factors outside their control, and their actions determine if the farm sinks or swims. The New York State Farm Laborer's Wage Board's recommendation is a death wish for farmers and small businesses. I am proud to reintroduce former Congressman Chris Jacobs' Protect Local Farms Act to combat this ignorant decision and keep the threshold at 60 hours. We need our New York farmers – they are critical to our community, economy, and health."

 

Congresswoman Stefanik: “I’m standing up for our hardworking farmers and workers devastated by Albany’s out-of-touch decision to lower the farmworker overtime threshold. As this decision jeopardizes New York’s agriculture industry, puts thousands of farm laborers out of work, and makes New York less competitive by sending our workers to neighboring states in the midst of a labor shortage, this bill will set a federal standard to ensure the overtime threshold for agricultural workers cannot be lowered beyond 60 hours a week, so our farmers can continue to operate their farms and New York can continue its strong contributions to our food security. I am proud to provide this critical check on Far-Left Democrats who are crushing our Upstate farmers. Upstate families will always support our farms, because we understand: No farms, no food.”

 

Congresswoman Tenney: “The New York State Farm Laborers Wage Board totally disregarded the needs and input of farmers when they released their proposal to lower the overtime threshold for our farm workers from 60 to 40 hours. This proposal demonstrates just how out of touch the Board and Albany are with Upstate’s farmers and their employees. I am honored to cosponsor this critical piece of legislation that works to give farmers and producers the resources they need to succeed.”

 

Congressman Langworthy: “I was proud to be one of the first to fight back against this awful decision that was derived from New York City interests who don’t know the first thing about the agriculture industry. Their woke agenda will have a catastrophic impact on our family farms’ ability to survive and since the governor was not willing to stop it, we will take action at the federal level,”

 

Congressman Molinaro: “I was glad to join Congressman Brandon Williams in introducing legislation that provides a federal fix to Albany’s disastrous overtime rule. Upstate NY farmers are facing record-high fertilizer prices, skyrocketing fuel costs, and severe workforce shortages. We should be providing farmers with relief – not adding economic burdens.”

 

David Fisher, President, New York Farm Bureau: "The farmworker overtime threshold in New York makes it harder for our farms to make ends meet when we face higher labor costs than nearly every other state in the country. Rep. Williams common sense legislation looks to put every farm on the same level playing field. A set minimum federal overtime threshold will eliminate the competitive edge one state has over another and benefit farmworkers at the same time.”

 

The Protect Local Farms Act was previously introduced by Congressman Chris Jacobs in the 117th Congress. It has been referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce where it awaits further action.

 

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