HORNERSVILLE, Mo. – Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08) spoke to local family farmers this week at Moore & Moore Farms in Dunklin County. This month Congressman Smith is meeting with farmers and ranchers all across southern Missouri to discuss the different challenges within the agriculture industry.
Three generations of Moore family farmers showed Congressman Smith every step of their watermelon farming operation from picking, preparing, and packaging
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watermelons. They echoed concerns farmers have all across southern Missouri, saying it’s hard to find good help on the farm.
Congressman Smith said employers everywhere would have an easier time finding help if the government didn’t incentivize people to stay home.
“Employers have to compete with their own government,” said Congressman Smith. “It’s not sustainable – for business or for the government. We shouldn’t pay able-bodied people to stay out of the workforce.”
Congressman Smith voted for work requirements for food stamps in the 2018 House Farm Bill, something he says will help address the labor shortage. Loopholes and gaps within the immigration system are also leading to issues for employers nationwide, according to Smith.
“We need a secure border and an effective, verifiable visa guest worker program that keeps track of people here for work,” said Congressman Smith. “Too many people are unaccounted for and it directly impacts hiring in the United States. 740,000 people overstayed their visas in the U.S. last year, which is one of the reasons it’s critical to support the men and women of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
Smith has consistently voted for stronger immigration security while in Congress.