The Louisiana Model: How a State Legislator Can Apply Pressure on the State Congressional Delegation

The Louisiana Agricultural Commissioner Mike Strain stated that the crawfish industry is 2,000 workers short this year. He said that the price of crawfish collapsed due to the lack of workers to process the crawfish. This has consequently had an extremely negative impact on Louisiana’s farmers.

Additionally, Gray Delany, SEA Managing Director, spoke representing all H-2B users. Delany spoke about how the H-2B program creates and support American jobs emphasizing that the average H-2B employer employs 3 American workers for every H-2B worker.

This resolution should be replicated in other states. Applying pressure from the state delegations on their congressional delegations is an effective way to raise awareness of the impact of the program to their state/district. Additionally, state legislators often become the next members of Congress. Educating them as legislators will make it more likely they will be supporters if they are elected to Congress.  

Thank you to Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry for shepherding this through the legislator and for taking the initiative on this resolution. Onwards!

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