More info on intended cancellation of NAWS

-----Original Message-----
From: Jaksich, Jeff
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 10:07 PM
To: Ybarra, Jose
Subject: RE: Intended CANCELLATION of the National Agricultural Worker
Survey(NAWS)

Jose,

Well put.  DOL Policy, where NAWS is located is trying to get the other Federal agencies that use NAWS to pay their fair share. OMB is working this issue.

Jeff Jaksich

-----Original Message-----
From: Ybarra, Jose
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 10:56 AM
Subject: FW: Intended CANCELLATION of the National Agricultural Worker Survey(NAWS)

Now the budget cuts begin, the cancellation of programs that benefit the poor and the voiceless, the agricultural workers.  By cancellation of the NAW program the number of agricultural workers will remain unidentified and invisible and so will their social needs for health care, housing, education, employment, vocational training and worker right protections. This will impact  programs that are funded based on the number and needs of the farm worker population.

Generally speaking, if one wants to do away with a program, one establishes that there is no need for such program because of the number of customers that need such services. Since programs that provide services to farm workers are based on the identification of the number of farm workers that have service needs, the cancellation of the NAWS will impact the future funding of farm worker programs. Keep a close watch on the proposed budget cuts. Farm workers programs are going to have an uphill fight to stay alive. 

-----Original Message-----
From: rangelncfh [mailto:rangel@...]
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 3:03 PM
Subject: Intended CANCELLATION of the National Agricultural Worker Survey (NAWS)

I am writing to let you know some disturbing news about the intended CANCELLATION of the National Agricultural Worker Survey (NAWS) by the Bureau of Labor.  There is a very narrow window of opportunity for immediate response--PLEASE write your congressman and senators, the Secretary of Labor and Assistant Secretary for Policy (contact information below) regarding the importance of NAWS.  This is the ONLY national source of data we have on farmworkers, and the government, through various agencies, has been collecting data on farmworkers since 1944.  With recommendations from many agencies to enhance our surveillance of special populations, this would be a huge blow and step backward.  Please see the following URL for supporting information on the NAWS. http://www.aguirreinternational.com/naws/naws_info.pdf

 
The person at the Department of Labor who is in charge of the NAWS is Veronica Vargas-Stidvent who is the Assistant Secretary for Policy.

Her contact information is:
Veronica Vargas-Stidvent
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Ave., NW
Suite S-2312
Washington, D.C. 20210
By Phone  (202) 693-5959
By FAX  (202) 693-5961
 
Thank you,
Sharon Cooper
 
 
Sharon Cooper, Ph.D.
Professor and Head
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Texas A&M School of Rural Public Health
3000 Briarcrest, Suite 300
Bryan, TX 77802