Do you like your food to be affordable? Do you like your food to be grown and produced locally? If the answers to those questions are yes, you need to let the House Committee on Business and Labor know you stand opposed to HB 4002 — the Ag Overtime bill.
I started working on farms in Harney County when I was in high school and now, I'm fortunate enough to run my own. I can tell you firsthand farm work often cannot be scheduled in eight-hour days and 40-hour work weeks. This is not how agriculture works because it’s not how nature works.
Simply put, this bill is out of touch with our agriculture and natural resource communities. You can read more about the bill and why I'm opposed to it here.
|
At this point, it’s more likely HB 4002 will ensure seasoned farm workers relying on this work to make a living will make less money when their hours are restricted by the ag overtime bill. Such a bill will cause farmers and ranchers to cut farm worker hours, produce less and charge more for their products. A lose-lose-lose.
Your Voice Needs To Be Heard!
The House Committee Members on Business and Labor need to hear YOUR VOICE. A public hearing on HB 4002 is scheduled for THIS Tuesday, February 8 starting at 5:30pm. Most likely each person will get 2-3 minutes to testify.
Here's how to sign up to testify on the Ag Overtime Bill, HB 4002:
Submit written testimony using this form:
Electronic: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2022R1/Testimony/HBL
Register to testify live remotely:
Register online: https://survey.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6ncLHKlETWSFfCe You will see a confirmation screen and be sent an email with information on how to join the meeting. If you do not, contact the committee assistant.
Register by phone: 833-588-4500 (U.S. toll free). You will be given a phone number to call into the meeting.
Registration closes one hour before the meeting is scheduled to begin.
Thank you for standing against an idea that will hurt hard working farm workers, our farms and small businesses, and increase the cost of food at the grocery store.
Be safe,
Representative Mark Owens
|
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1460
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-475, Salem, OR 97301
Capitol Email: Rep.MarkOwens@oregonlegislature.gov
Capitol Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/owens
District Phone: 503-413-2482
District Address: 85 W. Washington St., Burns, OR 97720
| 
