A Floridian known as the richest man in the Senate is crying foul over high pay for agricultural workers.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is among the 15 signatories to a U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo letter seeking a "freeze" to the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR).
While Florida's $14.77 rate of compensation for these field workers is among the lowest rates in the country, the price is too high for Scott and the other Republicans on the letter, especially given the rate of increase. Nationally, the average wage has more than doubled in the last two decades.
For Senate Republicans, that is unacceptable and unsustainable.
"If costs continue to increase as they have, the pressure put on America's food producers will fundamentally shift the food production model that has allowed us to be agriculturally independent and secure," the letter continues.
"The United States already imports much of our fruit and produce, as operating costs and competition from abroad have driven out many domestic producers. If we continue with these unsustainable policies, we are not only damaging our country's longstanding agricultural heritage, but also threatening our domestic food supply."
Constituents "will be forced to make tough decisions about which crops they will be able to afford to hire enough labor to harvest this year," the letter adds.
"Others, including small and family run operations, will be unable to afford the added labor costs and forced to shutter operations altogether. In order to support our farmers and ranchers and feed families across the country, we must act now."
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