Whitfield Welcomes Kentucky Farmers to Washington
Congressman Congratulates Outstanding Young Farm Bureau Youth

From the Office of Congressman Ed Whitfield
Thursday, February 24, 2010

 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) welcomed farmers from throughout the First Congressional District to Washington this morning and recognized a student from Burkesville for winning the Kentucky Outstanding Young Farm Bureau Youth

“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy in Kentucky, especially in the First Congressional District,” Whitfield said. “I am always pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Kentucky farmers to discuss the issues that impact them the most.”

Whitfield attended the Kentucky Farm Bureau Annual Congressional Breakfast in Washington today. The Congressman addressed the group and presented to Luke King an American flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol., Luke is a student from Burkesville who won the statewide Kentucky Farm Bureau Outstanding Youth competition in December. Luke won the district contest for his region before being selected from 21 other district finalists as a state winner.

The Congressman spoke before the crowd about important legislation and government regulations which impact Kentucky farmers. Specifically, Whitfield addressed the importance of reforming the H-2A visa program to ensure Kentucky farmers are not forced to pay foreign workers more than American workers. The Congressman announced plans to introduce legislation in the upcoming weeks which, if passed, would change the H-2A program from using the Adverse Effect Wage Rate to the Minimum Wage Rate.