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Congressional Daily Record
This section focuses on legislation moving through Congress. It mentions legislation such as Amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish the Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce., committees such as Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, members such as Alejandro Padilla.
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August 6, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextBy Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Ms. Warren, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Markey,
Mr. Booker, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Rosen, and Mr.
Lujan):
S. 5303. A bill to amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to establish the Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Supporting Our Farm and Food System Workforce Act, which I introduced today.
California—the agricultural heart of the Nation—where we have one of the largest populations of farmworkers and food system workers in the United States. Throughout pandemic, these workers put food on our tables and kept our grocery store shelves stocked despite facing deep- rooted inequities in the workforce and often experiencing food insecurity themselves.
dedicated to serving as a liaison between farm workers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture—the Farmworker Coordinator. While the 2008 farm bill created this position, Congress has never provided the proper resources to support or staff this position. The 2023 U.S. Department of Agriculture Equity Commission Interim Report included a strong recommendation for the USDA to fund and elevate roles for professional staff solely dedicated to farmworkers' concerns and perspectives.
voice in the national conversation. We must give farm and food system workers a dedicated office within the USDA to integrate their invaluable perspectives into the decisions that directly affect their lives and livelihoods.
USDA Office of the Farm and Food System Workforce to not only serve as a liaison for farm and food system workers but also to provide a platform for their concerns and interests to assist in the creation of recommendations and new initiatives for the Department.
Committee, composed of a diverse cross-section of members representing these workers' varied interests and perspectives—such as workers themselves, labor unions, higher education professionals, civil rights advocates, women worker-focused groups, and trusted community-based non-profits.
Interagency Council, comprised of representatives from various Federal Agencies to improve coordination, planning, program development, and policymaking across Cabinet-level leadership. The Office would also appoint staff to various USDA entities to serve as liaisons on matters related to farm and food system workers within the Department.
in multiple languages, about the Office's work, including recommendations to improve the work and livelihood of farm and food system workers, the climate change impacts on the food system, and the barriers workers face to accessing Federal programs.
remember the workers behind the American food system, the workers who keep our families and communities fed and healthy. These workers deserve a seat at the table.