17 Republicans, Including Every New York Republican Member of Congress and 10 GOP Candidates, Back Legislation to Stop Hochul’s Farm Laborers Wage Board’s Overtime Decision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
GLENS FALLS, NY–Today, following Governor Kathy Hochul’s Farm Laborers Wage Board’s recommendation to lower the overtime threshold, every New York Republican Member of Congress and nine Republican candidates in key races across New York State announced that they’re united in support of the Protect Local Farms Act. The bill, led by Congressman Chris Jacobs and co-sponsored by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, would prevent the New York State Farm Laborers Wage Board’s recommendation to lower the overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours per week from taking effect.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) stated:
“Make no mistake, this is a war on rural New York and a direct assault on multi-generational family farms, and Republicans are united in fighting back. Kathy Hochul and Albany Democrats shamefully and willingly ignored the outcry from our family farmers who know the devastating impact this decision will have on New York’s farms, agricultural industry, and communities.
Republican members of Congress and candidates across New York are united behind our farmers and in support of the Protect Local Farms Act to help stop this reckless decision from going into effect and putting thousands of farm laborers out of work. Amid a labor shortage crisis, we can’t afford to have our workers move to neighboring states, and we will not stop fighting against this decision to protect our jobs, our food, and our way of life.
A newsflash to Kathy Hochul and Albany bureaucrats: Farmers vote and rural America votes. Today and every day, Republicans stand united with our hard-working farmers and rural communities across New York State. Kathy Hochul and Democrats’ war on farmers and rural America ends on November 8th when we deliver a Red Wave to Save New York.”
Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) stated:
“The wage board’s decision to lower the overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours was made in complete ignorance to the nature and needs of our agriculture industry. If the Governor accepts this recommendation made by out-of-touch New York City bureaucrats, she will be complicit in bankrupting thousands of family farms and ending farming in our state as we know it, as workers leave to seek better opportunities. The pandemic made clear farming is integral to our state’s health and our national security. That is why I was proud to introduce the Protect Local Farms Act – legislation to designed to protect our farms from reckless one-party rule in Albany that is intently working against them. I’m proud of the support this legislation has received – together, New York Republicans will stand strong against this horrible policy making and ensure our farms thrive for generations to come.”
Congressman and Republican and Conservative nominee for GovernorLee Zeldin (NY-01) stated:
“At a time when hard-working families need support the most, Kathy Hochul’s Farm Laborer Board has turned its back on family farmers and all New Yorkers. This recent reckless decision will further harm New York’s hardworking farmers and hinder their ability amid a national labor shortage to get workers for their farms, and compete with other states.
I proudly stand with my Republican colleagues in support oflocal farmsand will work tirelessly to reverse this devastating decision for family farms and our state.”
Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02) stated:
“From congestion pricing in NYC toHochul’sFarm Laborers Wage Board’sattack on New York’s farming community, Democrats across the state seem intent on crushing the hard working people of New York with their out of touch policies andbloatedtaxes. I’m proud to stand with Congressman Chris Jacobs and support The Protect Local Farms Act in order to stopthis reckless action and preserve New York’s farms, which contribute to the economic stability and food security of our entire state.”
George Santos,Republican nominee for NY-03 stated:
“Farmers make up the framework of America. With no farms, we have no food. We must stand up against out of touch elites in Albany and Washington DC and have the backs of farmers in New York and across the country. I stand in support of the Protect Local Farms Act.”
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) stated:
“Governor Kathy Hochul’s Farm Laborers Wage Board’s recommendation to lower the overtime threshold, is yet again an example of Albany Politician’s “we know best” mentality. This is a bureaucratic attack on New York’s agricultural industry and every New Yorker that cares about the costs at the grocery store should stand up for the family farms across this state and push back against the latest Albany groupthink.”
Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22; running in NY-24) stated:
“Kathy Hochul and Democrats in Albany are once again attacking our state’s family farmers. The proposal to lower the farm laborer’s overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours per week completely ignored input from stakeholders in the agricultural sector. It will burden our farmers with additional costs at a time when they are already battling sky high energy prices and record inflation. The change will force lifelong New York farmers either out of business or out of state.
“I thank Congressman Chris Jacobs for introducing this legislation, which I am honored to cosponsor. I stand with leaders from across our state in echoing the call for state Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon to reject this change and maintain the current 60-hour threshold. New York family farms power our state and feed our families – they cannot bear nor do they deserve these additional price hikes.”
Congressman-elect Joe Sempolinski (NY-23) stated:
“I support the Protect Local Farms Act. The Wage Board’s unfair proposal shows just how far out of touch Albany Democrats are with rural New York. Do they even know how farms operate? I care about our small local farms and their economic impact on our communities. Farmers don’t need more politicians in Albany or Washington telling them what they can and cannot do.”
Nick Lalota, Republican nominee for NY-01 stated:
“I want to thank Congressman Chris Jacobs and New York’s entire Republican delegation for their work to stop this catastrophic decision for our state. Thanks to Joe Biden, New Yorkers are already suffering from a labor shortage crisis, and it’s clear that Kathy Hochul’s Laborers Wage Board’s overtime decision would crush farmers, hurt food security, and cost jobs that will impact our entire state. I stand united with Republicans throughout New York in support of this legislation and in support of our farmers.”
Anthony D’Esposito, Republican nominee for NY-04 stated:
“I’m proud to announce my support for The Protect Local Farms Act. This legislation would stop this devastating decision from wreaking havoc on not just our agricultural industry, but our entire economy in New York state. Our workforce is already struggling to overcome a severe labor shortage, and our state simply can’t afford to crush our farmers at a time when they need help the most. I look forward to working with New York Republicans in Congress on this issue and on various other important issues to help get our economy back on track and save our state.”
Assemblyman Mike Lawler, Republican nominee for NY-17 stated:
“The New York State Farm Laborers Wage Board’s decision to reduce the overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours puts the entirety of New York State’s agricultural industry in the crosshairs. With farmers already on the ropes due to higher taxes, burdensome regulations, and increased costs of goods thanks to inflation, the last thing they need is yet another additional cost to doing business. This decision will be the end for many small farmers, reaping further devastation on an industry already struggling to get by in NY.”
Assemblyman Colin Schmitt, Republican nominee for NY-18 stated:
“The terrible decision by the wage board will cripple our local family farms in the Hudson Valley. I have opposed the wage board since day one and, in the state legislature, I co-sponsored legislation to repeal it. Government needs to be reminded of ‘no farms, no food.’ Disastrous decisions like this will continue to shutter many of our local family farms. I am proud to stand with our pro-farm, Republican coalition in New York in supporting this bill.”
Marc Molinaro, Republican nominee for NY-19 stated:
“Kathy Hochul and New York City Democrats have unleashed a war on rural America and family farms across Upstate New York. I’m proud to support The Protect Local Farms Act to help stop Albany’s devastating blow to our farmers. Protecting agriculture in Upstate New York is vital to the health and economy of our communities. I know this first-hand, as my step dad’s family owned a dairy farm and my county has innovated to support farming.This shouldn’t be a partisan issue, but Democrats are sadly leaving farmers to fend for themselves. I have always stood up for our farmers, and I will continue to when I get to Washington.”
Liz Joy, Republican nominee for NY-20 stated:
“Far-Left bureaucrats in Albany have proven once again that they are completely out of touch with the needs of our farmers and families in New York state. Their reckless decision to lower the overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours per week would devastate our agricultural industry and jeopardize food security in New York. Since this reckless decision was proposed, I’ve stood side by side with Republican officials behind our local farmers, and I’m proud to join all Republican candidates and members of Congress in New York state today in supporting The Protect Local Farms Act. Congressman Chris Jacobs and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik are offering real solutions, and I look forward to joining them in Washington so that we can stop this attack on rural New York and our farmers and save our state.”
Brandon Williams, Republican nominee for NY-22 stated:
“Central New York is home to hard-working farmers who put food on our tables and help drive our local and state economy. We can’t afford to sit back and allow Kathy Hochul’s Farm Laborers Wage Board’s overtime decision devastate our communities, which is why I’m proud to support Congressman Chris Jacob’s The Protect Local Farms Act. I stand united with Republicans across our state behind our farmers, and I look forward to working with them in Washington to continue the important work ahead to save New York.”
Nick Langworthy, Republican nominee for NY-23 stated:
“I stand proudly in support of the Protect Local Farms Act and look forward to the opportunity to help make it become law. Our family farmsare already gasping for air under current overregulation and lowering the overtime threshold would be a death knell for them.Thank you to all the members of ourNew York State Republican delegation for helping to lead the charge to protect our precious farms against New York City interests who know nothing about the agriculture industry.”
La’Ron Singletary, Republican nominee for NY-25 stated:
“It doesn’t matter what corner of New York state you reside in, no farms means no food. Standing with New York’s hard-working farmers means standing for jobs, a strong economy, and food security, during a vital time when our economy is struggling. I’m proud to support The Protect Local Farms Act, and I thank Congressman Chris Jacobs and all of our Republican elected leaders in New York for their tireless work to support New York’ agricultural industry and our entire state.”
La’Ron Singletary, Republican nominee for NY-25 stated:
“It doesn’t matter what corner of New York state you reside in, no farms means no food. Standing with New York’s hard-working farmers means standing for jobs, a strong economy, and food security, during a vital time when our economy is struggling. I’m proud to support The Protect Local Farms Act, and I thank Congressman Chris Jacobs and all of our Republican elected leaders in New York for their tireless work to support New York’ agricultural industry and our entire state.”
