Congresswoman Tenney Cosponsors Legislation to Protect New York’s Family Farms

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22) today announced her cosponsorship of H.R. 8756, the Protect Local Farms Act, to prevent the recent recommendation from the New York State Farm Laborers Wage Board to lower the overtime threshold from 60 hours to 40 hours per week from taking effect. Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) introduced the legislation, and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) is also a cosponsor.

“The decision to recommend lowering the farm worker overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours per week is woefully misguided and ignores input from important industry stakeholders,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “Family farms, who are already struggling with rising costs from diesel to fertilizer and more, could be forced to reduce operations or leave the industry or state altogether. The Board completely failed to consider the overwhelming and passionate comments from farmers, consumers, and farm workers in formulating their policy priorities, deciding to undermine the very industry and workers they are supposed to serve. Today, I am honored to stand up for these very farmers. No farms, no food.”

Specifically, the Protect Local Farms Act would mandate federally that the overtime threshold for the agriculture industry cannot be set lower than 60 hours per week, effectively keeping New York’s current overtime threshold in place.

The full text of the bill is available here.

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