June 26, 2019
Dear Friend,
Every year, farmers enter the fields hoping that the weather will cooperate and that they will see a return on their hard-earned investment. I have walked the fields with many of these farmers in the First District, listening to their concerns. One of the most persistent problems they have encountered over the years is a shortage of seasonal labor. Dr. Bill Burdine, Mississippi State Extension Service Regional Specialist, said that is the number one issue for sweet potato farmers. "Sweet potato producers cannot find enough people to get the job done," Burdine said. "Every step of the process, from planting to harvest, requires the placement of a human hand. Farmers who rely upon the H-2A temporary worker visa program to meet their needs must plan ahead or face long delays."
The problem can be even worse for those who need temporary workers in the poultry, dairy, livestock, forestry, and landscaping industries, because the H-2B program limits the number of available work visas. Mississippi Forestry Association Executive Vice President Tedrick Ratcliff said tree farmers have a limited time period to plant trees. "Delays are costly for tree farmers," Ratcliff said. "If they do not have enough seasonal workers when they need them, the process can be delayed for an entire year. With two-thirds of the state covered in timber, this problem impacts Mississippi's $12.8 billion forest industry as a whole."
Recently, I introduced the Paperwork Reduction for Farmers and H-2A Modernization Act in coordination with U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-Ken.). This bill would reduce the regulatory burden for acquiring temporary workers and streamline these antiquated programs. Additionally, this legislation allows livestock, equine, forestry, and landscaping workers to participate in the uncapped H-2A visa program, instead of the H-2B program which is capped at 66,000 workers. This common sense bill will help address the workforce shortage throughout the agriculture industry.
To read the full text of the bill, please click HERE.
| dynamic glass act of 2019 |
Dynamic Glass Act of 2019
Recently, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, (R-Miss), U.S. Senator Ed Markey, (D-Mass), U.S. Representative Steven Horsford, (D-Nev.), and I introduced the Dynamic Glass Act of 2019. This bill would make electrochromic glass eligible for federal energy tax credits. This specialized glass controls the light and heat intensity that enters a building. This legislation would make this energy-saving product more affordable to commercial developers, while decreasing energy costs and consumption.
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| View, Inc. (Olive Branch) |
Additionally, tax credits would create a demand that could benefit Americans who work for manufacturers of this product, including View, Inc. Currently, the company employs 600 people at their Olive Branch operation. "This bill supports advanced technologies such as smart windows that are key to transforming the real estate industry by improving people's health and reducing energy consumption," View, Inc., Industry Strategy Vice President Brandon Tinianov said. "It will also help continue the growth of highly paid, high-tech manufacturing jobs in Mississippi and across America."
To read the full text of the bill, please click HERE.
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| View, Inc. team members |
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| the congressional gold medal award |
Congratulations to the Congressional Award Gold Medal recipients from the First Congressional District! This award is the highest honor that Congress bestows upon youth. These young people devoted more than 400 hours of their time to community service. Additionally, they set and achieved personal and physical fitness goals.
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2019 Gold Award recipients C.J. Weddle,
Jessica Gates, Maurissa Shumpert,
and Mikayla Shelton |
Last week, I was honored to participate in the 2019 Congressional Award Gold Medal Ceremony and to recognize winners from the district. Honorees not pictured are: Jacob Lindsey (Shannon), Kacilyn Pegues (Shannon), Jessi Davis (Dumas), Taylor Fields (Aberdeen), Jonah Holland (Belmont), Morgan Lyons (Plantersville), Teiryne Miller (Shannon), Callie Philips (Tupelo), and T'ajahlon White (Tupelo).
For more information about The Congressional Award, please visit www.congressionalaward.org.
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| new field office opening soon |
As your Representative, it is my chief priority to serve the people of Mississippi's First Congressional District. In 2015, we opened offices in Farmington, Tupelo, Hernando, Eupora, and Columbus. The requests for services offered through our office have increased and we are eager to respond by opening an additional outreach office. On July 1, 2019, we will open our new office located at the Oxford City Hall.
We have an open door policy in all of our offices. For more information about the services that we offer, please click on the link. Robert Smith, our field representative in Oxford, can be reached at (662) 687-1540 or send him an e-mail at Robert.Smith@mail.house.gov.
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| how can we assist you? |
It is important to me and to my team to make sure your thoughts and concerns are personally addressed. Our field representatives live among you throughout the First Congressional District. I have carefully chosen each person because of their heartfelt commitment to public service. I am pleased to introduce Field Representative Missy Younger, a native of Aberdeen and the newest member of our team. Missy is well-known for a steadfast devotion to her fellow residents of the Golden Triangle through volunteer work and, along with her husband, Mississippi State Senator Chuck Younger, is the first to offer a listening ear and a helping hand to those in need.
Missy can be reached at our field office in Columbus. Give her a call at (662) 327-0748 or (662) 687-1721. Send her an e-mail at Missy.Younger@mail.house.gov. To reach a field representative near you, please click on the link.
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| in the news |
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| Photo credit: David Wardrick |
DeSoto Times Tribune/Brent Walker
Congressman Trent Kelly is gearing up to represent Mississippi in the annual Congressional Baseball Game for Charity later this month and will be showing his pride for one DeSoto County School in particular....
To read the full article, please click HERE.
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| from home to the hill - pictures |
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The Alliance President Clayton Stanley and
Tennessee Valley Authority Regional Economic
Development Consultant Kristi Brown |
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Vertex Aerospace Rear Admiral Ed Boyington
(USN, RET), Don Davis, Sr. Vice President,
Business Development and Strategy, John Lundy,
Capitol Resources, and Ty Mabry, Capitol Resources |
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Milam Elementary School students Carson
Bedgood and Mathew McDaniel in Washington |
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Visit Mississippi's Rochelle Hicks, Kelli Davis
Carr, Bill Seratt, Rickey Thigpen, Lisa Winters,
Laura Beth Strickland, and Mary Allyn
Roulhac Hedges |
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Governor Phil Bryant and Congressman
Michael Guest |
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| Dale Dunigan and Pat Nozinich from Tate County |
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Lafayette County School District teacher
Marisa Atkinson and students, Stephanie Kelly,
Christasha Turner, and JaNaudia Harris |
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33rd annual Electric Power Cooperatives
Washington, D.C. Youth Tour |
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| Guntown Middle School students |
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McKesson Corporation Vice President and General
Manager Christopher Van Norman (Olive Branch) |
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Saltillo-Lee County Junior Civitans Carol
Vandevander, Kalee Sanders, Corrie Sanders,
Kailee Byrd, Destiny Ozbirn, ethan Benefield,
Tonya Cox, Gavin Gittleson, Mckenzie Jones,
Tripp Cox, Houston Enlow, and Jennifer Byrd |
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Mississippi Music Educators Association
representatives Nancy Robertson and Tommy Creel |
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MUW President Nora Miller and University
Counsel Karen Clay |
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David and Ginger Lancaster, Ben, Kayla,
and Nellie Massengill (Corinth) |
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Ole Miss Associated Student
Body President Barron Mayfield |
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Ole Miss Associated Student Body Vice
President Charlotte Shackelford |
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| Kayla Crowson, Ricky, Rick, and Telethia Campbell |
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Ackerman Mayor Tim Cutts,Tonya Cutts,
and Sue Tarver |
For more photos, please visit my Facebook page.
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| stay in touch |
Let me know if there is anything my office can do to assist you. You can keep up with the latest news by signing up for my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Thanks for reading,
Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-01)
Member of Congress
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