WASHINGTON — Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) on Wednesday reaffirmed his commitment to including the Farm Workforce Modernization Act in a bipartisan immigration reform bill currently being negotiated in the House. “It’s absolutely going to be part of the discussion and, I hope, part of the final product,” Newhouse said, expressing optimism despite significant challenges. A longtime advocate for the legislation, Newhouse has used his position on the House Agriculture Committee to elevate its importance and underscore the growing urgency for immigration reform.

The negotiations, however, have been complicated by opposition from Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), who, through a spokesperson on Tuesday, stated his opposition to granting residency to unauthorized migrants. Newhouse expressed the need for clarification on Luttrell’s stance. “I need to clarify with Morgan on what he’s actually looking toward. We need to recognize that there are people here who need some kind of legal status, and that’s what we’re working towards,” Newhouse said.

The internal disagreements among Republican negotiators further underscore the challenges of reaching bipartisan consensus. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), another key GOP member of the working group, has voiced support for providing green cards to migrants but without a pathway to citizenship—a position that differs from Luttrell’s outright opposition to residency programs.

Despite these divisions, Newhouse remains hopeful. He praised the involvement of Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NJ) and his Republican colleagues for fostering a sense of urgency around immigration reform. However, with the next meeting of the bipartisan working group yet to be scheduled, key questions about the bill’s scope and content remain unresolved as negotiations continue.

Transcript: Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA)

Pablo: Hi Congressman, will your Farm Workforce Modernization Act be a part of the bipartisan bill you’re negotiating with Luttrell, Bacon, and Suozzi?

Newhouse: A part of the discussion?

Pablo: A part of the final bill …

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