SENATE MEMORIAL 59

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Stephen H. Fischmann

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO ADDRESS THE NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION TO THE SHORTAGE OF AN ADEQUATE WORK FORCE BY INTRODUCING LEGISLATION TO CREATE A GUEST WORKER PROGRAM THAT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED IN NEW MEXICO AND ACROSS THE NATION TO HELP THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY COMPETE WITH FOREIGN MARKETS.

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is recognized for having the best tasting chile in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, chile is recognized as the state vegetable, and

"red or green?" as the state question; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans take great pride in New Mexico chile as a culinary treasure; and

     WHEREAS, foreign competitors have captured much of New Mexico's market share of chile products because of their advantageous regulatory environment and plentiful, cheap labor; and

     WHEREAS, according to the New Mexico chile association, while consumption of chile is skyrocketing in the United States, New Mexico's production of chile is in steep decline in part due to an inadequate labor force; and

     WHEREAS, chile producers are dependent on a reliable and skilled work force twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; and

     WHEREAS, the majority of agricultural entities are located in low-populated areas with low unemployment rates; and

     WHEREAS, few unemployed people in these areas are willing to work the hours or do the tasks required to produce chile, and few unemployed people in other parts of the nation are willing to move to where these facilities and jobs are located; and

     WHEREAS, citizens of the United States of America and other parts of the world are dependent on economical, agricultural production, which is directly dependent on an adequate labor force; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico farmers and ranchers face a shortage of workers who are willing and able to work on farms and in fields; and

     WHEREAS, American agricultural businesses should be assured a legal, stable supply of workers; and

     WHEREAS, five billion dollars ($5,000,000,000) to nine billion dollars ($9,000,000,000) in annual agricultural production is in jeopardy every year due to an employee shortage; and

     WHEREAS, determining the legal status of prospective employees can be difficult;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to address the need for a comprehensive solution to the shortage of an adequate work force by introducing legislation to create a guest worker program that can be implemented in New Mexico and across the nation to help the agricultural industry to compete with foreign markets; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation and the New Mexico department of agriculture.

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