Henry Vasquez
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Pesticides
Protecting Farm Workers from Pesticides
Pesticides are toxic chemicals used to kill or control pests. Each year, the United States uses over a billion pounds of pesticides. Many pesticides can pose public health and environmental threats, but they are of particular concern for farm working families who face the highest levels of exposure to these toxic substances. One of the largest contributors to farm workers’ coming into contact with pesticides is pesticide drift, which is the movement of pesticide dust or droplets through the air at the time of application or soon after in any site other than the area intended. Studies have estimated that as much as 45% of spray misses its target and becomes drift or ground deposits, an imminent danger to farm workers laboring nearby.
Currently, we are working with members of Congress to pass the Protect America’s Children from Toxic Pesticides Act of 2021 (PACTPA), which would ban pesticides that have been scientifically proven to harm people and the environment. These pesticides include Organophosphate insecticides, which have been linked to neurological damage in children; Neonicotinoid insecticides, which cause developmental defects, heart deformations, and muscle tremors in unborn children; and Paraquat, which has been shown to increase the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. PACTPA would also protect farm workers by requiring employers to report all pesticide-caused injuries to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); direct the EPA to review pesticide injury reports and work with the pesticide manufacturers to develop better labeling to prevent future injury, and require that all pesticide label instructions be written in Spanish. The UFW Foundation is proud to be one of 70+ organizations to endorse this legislation.
Farm workers and their families have continuously been exposed to harmful pesticides for years. We must continue to work with our partners and lawmakers to protect our nation’s farm workers from toxic exposure. These are long overdue protections that must be enacted now.
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Farm Worker Legalization
The Senate parliamentarian got it wrong.
Take action! Let’s make sure senators deliver this year for our farm workers, Dreamers, TPS Recipients and other vital members of our communities
Weeks after Senate Democrats made the case for deportation relief and work permits in the Build Back Better bill, the Senate Parliamentarian, an unelected staff of the Senate, recommended not including immigration provisions in the Build Back Better Bill. But the parliamentarian got it wrong. The Senate still has the power to pass immigration reform and farm workers are calling on their Democratic Senators to act on their promises and pass immigration reform, regardless of what the parliamentarian said. American voters agree farm workers should be protected from deportation. Senate Democrats have the duty to get immigration reform done.
Despite this bad advice from the unelected Senate Parliamentarian, we remain determined and undeterred. American voters agree farm workers should be protected from deportation and Senate Democrats have the duty to get immigration reform done. Farm workers have been fighting for decades for the ability to live in this country without fear of deportation and simply can’t wait any longer. Farm workers have been putting their lives at risk and have kept the nation moving forward, keeping food shelves of families all across the country well stocked. Farm workers toil under the scorching sun, performing skilled and strenuous work in fields, dairies, and ranches to ensure we have food on our tables. In return, they need to be protected from the fear of deportation and have the opportunity to work, live, and travel freely in this country. Farm workers have stepped up for the nation and now it’s time for Senate Democrats to do the same.
Please sign this petition today and call your Senator to support undocumented immigrants' path forward, including farm workers.
Farm workers can't wait and the timing is critical. Sign the petition to show support for farm workers leading the fight to win farm worker legalization! Si Se Puede!
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Henry Vasquez 54sc