Congressional Hispanic Caucus to Create Task Force on Farm Bill

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is planning to stand up an agriculture task force focused on the farm bill as multiple Latino members join the House Agriculture Committee, according to a congressional staffer familiar with the issue.

• Task force to be chaired by Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and include Democratic Reps. Tony Cárdenas (Calif.), Darren Soto (Fla.), Sylvia Garcia (Texas), Andrea Salinas (Ore.), Raul Ruiz (Calif.), Marie Gluesenkamp Pérez (Wash.), Salud Carbajal (Calif.), Yadira Caraveo (Colo.), and Nydia Velázquez (N.Y.)

• Members of the CHC have pushed for immigration bills that would provide earned legal status for farmworkers who come to the US

• Freshman members, including Salinas and Gluesenkamp Pérez, are joining the House Agriculture Committee this year, adding to Latino representation on Congress’ agriculture panels

• The task force comes as lawmakers gear up to write the next farm bill, which will determine major aspects of agricultural policy for the coming years